Italy

Researchers in Sweden and Italy analyzed the economics of one-axis, vertical, and elevated PV systems for agrivoltaic applications, finding that overhead agrivoltaic systems may perform better the further south they are installed. The discounted payback period and levelized cost of electricity were also calculated and compared.

Italy’s Lazio regional tribunal has partially invalidated a May 2024 decree defining suitable zones for ground-mounted renewables, forcing national and regional authorities to rethink the policy framework.

The Italian manufacturer said its new R32 heat pump has a coefficient of performance of up to 5.2 and a heating capacity of up to 16 kW. It is available in either single-phase or three-phase versions.

Experts speaking at the upcoming NetZero Milan Expo-Summit 2025 have told pv magazine that lithium’s rising competitiveness is pressuring emerging chemistries like sodium-ion, as the market shifts from incremental gains to larger cells that could reshape enclosure design.

AleaSoft Energy Forecasting says increases in solar energy production contributed to lower electricity prices across major European markets last week. Most analyzed markets also continued to experience negative hourly prices.

Experts set to speak at the NetZero Milan Expo-Summit 2025 on May 15 have told pv magazine that tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) will remain the dominant cell technology in the near term due to ongoing advancements, despite rising competition from back-contact and heterojunction technologies.

AleaSoft Energy Forecasting’s latest analysis finds Germany, Portugal and Spain broke their records for solar production on a day in April last week, while Italy recorded its second highest daily figure ever. Meanwhile, weekly average electricity prices increased across most major European markets.

Researchers in Italy have designed a novel carbon dioxide heat pump that can work with photovoltaic-thermal energy, a finned coil heat exchanger and a U-tube borehole heat exchanger. Their experiment has shown that the simultaneous use of at least two energy sources always results in improved system performance even with limited heat transfer areas.

Aurora Energy Research says the global electrolyzer pipeline now totals around 1.3 TW, with 114 GW in development and 32% expected online by the end of 2026. The firm cites stronger EU policy support and growing momentum in hybrid power purchase agreements (PPAs).

An international research team has created a new model that finds the best tilt angle for south-facing bifacial PV plants across Europe. The scientists also considered the Alpine region to examine the impact of mountains on optimal tilt angles.