“We expect that 1,500 MW can be easily reached in 2010 if the exponential growth trend continues,” Luca Benedetti from GSE’s operating directorate, said.
The incentive scheme will be reviewed when installed capacity covered by incentives reaches 1,200 MW.
Italy’s Industry Undersecretary Stefano Saglia said that the government planned to reduce incentives gradually in order to ease the burden on the debt-laden state budget but support the growing PV sector at the same time.
Benedetti said that GSE, which distributes incentives but does not take part in decision-making on a new scheme, expects no disruption in Italy’s solar market because of removal of incentives.
So far, GSE has provided about EUR220 million ($322.6 million) to owners of PV installations since the existing incentives scheme came into force in 2007.
As per GSE estimates, Italy’s PV capacity is expected to rise to 8,500 MW to help the country reach European Union climate change targets which foresee one fifth of all energy produced from renewable sources such as wind, sun and waves by 2020.
