“The Italian photovoltaic market experienced a steady
growth in 2008, when the installed photovoltaic power
exceeded the 300 MW threshold, with a 150% increase over
2007, and the overall revenues generated through the sale of
photovoltaic plants reached 1,070 million euros. These are the
effects of the Nuovo Conto Energia, an incentive framework
that established particularly attractive feed-in tariffs for
photovoltaic energy production at the beginning of 2007.
Despite the economic downturn and the sudden credit
crunch, forecasts for the Italian photovoltaic market remain
very optimistic, at least for the next five years. However,
which is the share of the overall photovoltaic market value
that is appropriated by Italian firms? Analyzing the Italian
photovoltaic industry, the Energy & Strategy Group at
Politecnico di Milano found that Italian companies hold
significant market shares only in the downstream phases of
the value chain (i.e. installation and distribution), where
margins are rather limited in comparison with upward
phases such as polysilicon and cell manufacturing. Foreign
firms dominate the Italian market in these upward
activities, therefore appropriating the highest margins out
of the industry, and hence indirectly benefiting from the
public incentives ensured by the Nuovo Conto Energia. The
article discusses the lines that could be pursued to improve
the role of Italian firms in the more attractive phases of the
photovoltaic industry”.

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