During the second day of the fourth edition of Energyear Italy, held in Milan, industry experts highlighted the need to harness Italy's renewable potential and address the current challenges facing the industry. 2n5r3n

In the titled "Harnessing Italy's Renewable Potential: Advancements and Challenges to Accelerate Sector Growth," featuring participants such as sco Emmolo, General Manager Italy at Longi; Luca Piffer, Country Manager at Dri Energy; Gabriele Sommantico, Head of Development at BNZ; and Paolo Tusa, Managing Director at WKN Italia (PNE AG), they discussed various pathways to advance the sector.

Luca Piffer emphasized that to accelerate the growth of renewables, it is essential to have a stable and predictable regulatory framework. He mentioned that investors need long-term security, especially regarding regulations that are not reactive to ongoing projects.

Piffer stressed that while laws on suitable areas for renewable development are being implemented, it is crucial that these regional regulations do not contradict national 2030 goals and beyond, as planning must be long-term to foster investor confidence, considering the ambitious targets of Italy’s Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), which aims to achieve 131 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030. Of this, 80 GW is expected to come from solar photovoltaic energy, 28 GW from wind energy, 19 GW from hydroelectric power, 3 GW from bioenergy, and 1 GW from geothermal sources. The current plan envisions a capacity increase of approximately 74 GW compared to 2021, of which around 57 GW will be photovoltaic and approximately 17 GW will be wind power.

For his part, Gabriele Sommantico highlighted the importance of involving local authorities from the beginning of projects, as this would avoid problems in later phases. He also stated that regional progress towards the 2030 goals should be monitored, adjusting development areas as necessary. Sommantico emphasized that in many cases, discussions around renewable energy lack a sufficiently global approach or benefit-sharing with local communities, which should be a priority.

In this same vein, Paolo Tusa addressed the importance of territorial synergy, noting that maintaining constant dialogue with communities and local authorities is crucial. He added that although there has been positive progress in project approvals, Italy still faces long authorization processes that hinder advancement.

Tusa stressed that the key lies in reducing wait times for approvals and improving coordination among the involved parties, which would help reduce costs and ultimately benefit communities. "It is important to develop integrated systems that enhance supply chain efficiency. Collaboration among different actors in the sector is essential."

Regarding the sector's technological challenges, sco Emmolo mentioned that to accelerate the energy transition, it is necessary to adopt advanced technological solutions, such as more efficient solar modules adapted to extreme weather conditions. Emmolo also emphasized the need to better integrate energy planning with industrial planning, ensuring that available resources, such as solar, are used more efficiently.

Agrivoltaics: An untapped opportunity

One recurring theme during the was agrivoltaics, viewed as an innovative synergy between agriculture and solar energy. Emmolo emphasized that integrating solar s into agricultural land can enhance crop production, citing vineyards where the shade created by the s helps mitigate the effects of extreme heat. This practice not only contributes to environmental sustainability but also provides additional income for farmers.

Tusa added that agrivoltaics projects not only generate clean energy but also strengthen rural communities by allowing them to diversify their income. Regulations should facilitate the implementation of these initiatives, given their potential to contribute to sustainability and food security goals in Italy.

The general consensus among the experts pointed to the importance of improving coordination among all actors to meet the ambitious 2030 targets. They also emphasized the need for a clear regulatory framework and a focus on technological innovation.