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Italy's PV program under new management
As a new director, unschooled in renewables, takes control of the
Italian PV program at the Ministry of Environment from the man who
created it, the future of government-subsidized PV is certain only for
2003.
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PHOTON International |
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Axed: Gianni Silvestrini (above), fired as
head of the national PV program, helped get PV onto
Italian buildings, like this 20 kW Eurosolare S.p.A.
installation in Rimini. (right) |
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Italy's center-right coalition headed by Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi has finally gotten round sweeping out the old guard
in the Ministry of Environment(MdA). Caught in the mid-August was
Gianni Silvestrini, the MdA director who had been instrumental in
getting the oft-delayed Italian PV roofs program on its feet.
Frequently caught between national and regional bureaucracies,
Silvestrini had to bear the frustrations of the PV industry as the
program struggled to get off the ground (see PI 8/2002, p. 16 and 18).
Despite this, the PV community always maintained respect for his
knowledge of PV and his devotion to getting it established in Italy.
So far, the same cannot be said of his replacement, Bruno Agricola.
Although a longtime employee at the MdA, Agricola has no background in
PV and practically none in renewables, according to several sources.
»Right now he is studying what a solar system is,« says one member of
the PV industry, who requested that his name not be used.
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Eurosolare S.p.A.;
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A 20 kW Eurosolare S.p.A.
installation in Rimini. |
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For the moment, Agricola's appointment will have
little effect on the program. While he performed his first official
act in September by releasing extra funds for a smaller part of the
program dealing with public projects, the big question revolves around
the far larger regional program. Funding for the next phase had
already been secured by Silvestrini as one of his last acts, when he
signed a decree in July releasing €13.5 million ($13.2 million) of MdA
money for the second round, which will be matched by the regions. They
are expected to publish tenders in November or December. The real test
of Agricola's commitment will come when he decides on €20 million
($19.6 million) for the third phase of regional programs, which had
already been placed into this year's budget. For now, it has been
delayed – at least until a planned restructuring of the MdA is
completed, probably by the end of the year. Even then, says Agricola's
assistant Mario Gamberale, it is impossible to guess when funds could
become available.
No decisions yet
Agricola, who declined to speak with PHOTON
International, attended a closed-door Sept. 20 meeting with the PV
industry association GIFI (Gruppo Imprese Fotovoltaiche Italiane) and
the heads of several PV companies. According to sources, Agricola, who
will head three departments, has not yet decided whether he wants to
use the MdA's limited funds to continue the PV program. He has
requested that GIFI prepare a document clarifying why PV should be
supported. While the willingness to learn is admirable, says the
source, Agricola's desire needs to be followed by swift actions.
Interestingly, Agricola's reservations seem to mimic comments made by
his boss, Minister Altero Matteoli of the MDA. In late June, Matteoli
gave a television interview in which he criticized PV. »In Italy, if
we install 10,000, 100,000, or 1,000,000 photovoltaic roofs,« said
Matteoli, »the [electricity production] is nearly equal to zero.«
While Gamberale admits this is not a hopeful sign, he insists the
program is not in danger.
For Silvestrini, the fate of the program depends on whether Agricola
keeps a low profile or decides to demonstrate concrete support. At any
rate, Silvestrini expects the regional governments, now that they have
gotten a taste of PV, to apply »bottom-up pressure« on the MdA to keep
the program alive.
But even in the program survives, Emiliano Fioravanti, the head of
GIFI, is unhappy that as of July it had only been responsible for 200
kW of installation. Instead, he has been pushing for a feed-in tariff
of about €0.50 ($0.49). While Silvestrini supported this concept,
there is no word yet from Agricola. And that is precisely what
disturbs Fioravanti -- the uncertainty surrounding PV in Italy. »You
can't be saying 'yes' today and 'no' tomorrow,« he complains. »We need
a very stable picture.« That will undoubtedly have to wait. |
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