NEWS

Key Takeaways

• Italia Solare says Italy’s newly installed solar PV capacity in 2024 totaled 6.80 GW 

• Close to 1.9 GW came online in Q4 thanks to large-scale projects, led by 1.28 GW in the Lazio region  

• The Lombardy region leads with the largest installed cumulative capacity of 4.99 GW out of 37.08 GW 

Italy’s solar PV market grew by 30% year-on-year (YoY) in 2024 with the addition of 6.79 GW of new capacity, expanding the country’s cumulative installed capacity to 37.08 GW, says local solar PV association Italia Solare. Almost 1.9 GW of new capacity was energized in Q4 last year.  

The number of total PV systems that are now online in the country total 1,878,780, but their number decreased by 25% in 2024, reaching 283,914 in new installations.  

The largest contributor to last year’s additions was the utility-scale segment comprising power projects with a capacity of 1 MW or higher. It grew by 163% YoY with the addition of 3.045 GW. Most of the projects were grid-connected during H2 2024.

The commercial and industrial (C&I) segment registered an annual growth of 8% for solar systems between 20 kW and 1 MW capacity with a combined 1.96 GW.

Finally, the residential segment of less than 20 kW systems declined by 21% YoY to 1.78 GW, which the association attributes to the end of the country’s Superbonus scheme.

While the residential solar segment declined 21% YoY to 1.78 GW with the end of Italy’s Superbonus scheme, Italia Solare says larger-sized solar projects are gaining strength. (Photo Credit: Italia Solare)

Italia Solare President Paolo Rocco Viscontini said, “Italian photovoltaics is experiencing a phase of solid growth, with an increasingly strong role of large-scale systems. However, the decline in residential installations is a signal that should not be underestimated: targeted measures are needed to support families in the energy transition.”

In terms of cumulative installations spread geographically, Lombardy leads with 4.99 GW mostly driven by C&I systems with power ranging between 200 kW and 1 MW. Veneto follows next with 3.76 GW, and 3.63 GW in Puglia. Large-scale solar power plants mostly abound in the Lazio region, which also led with new installations of 1.28 GW in 2024 with a 300% YoY increase.

The association sees continued progress in the market despite visible challenges. It recommends the government promote self-consumption for the residential and commercial sectors, speed up the permitting process for new projects, and improve network management to avoid bottlenecks for grid connection of large-scale plants.