Evaluation of energy policies for promotion and dissemination of photovoltaic technology in Italy

The present paper describes three case studies of photovoltaic installation integrated in shelters and realised between 2003 and 2005 under the Italian national financing programme Tetti Fotovoltaici (PV Roofs) based on Subsidy Grant Scheme. These multifunctional shelters, located near to school buildings, offer a suitable protection for bicycles and motorbikes of the students and the employees of the schools and, at the same time, produce electric energy from photovoltaic modules integrated in the roof of the structure. Based on net present value (NPV) calculations, an economical feasibility analysis is carried out for these three PV installations. Further, for a comparison purpose, the calculations have also been made considering (hypothetically) if these systems were realised under the new Italian financing programme Conto Energia, based on Feed in Tariffs Scheme, recently launched in Italy and substitutive of the previous one. For the environmental benefits derived from these plants, also the preliminary results are presented on the avoided GHG emission to the atmosphere. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.