NEW YORK - The Italian Trade Commission in New York, with the support of Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, will be present for the first time at SOLAR POWER INTERNATIONAL, one of the largest North American solar industry events of the year. Together with several Italian leaders in the field, the trade commission will raise awareness of the Italian solar market and the specific opportunities that exist for foreign companies interested in investing in this increasingly dynamic segment of the Italian economy.

The Italian solar market is growing at a significant rate, mostly as a result of favorable government policies and an ideal climate. In 2008, the total turnover of the Italian PV market was about €1.1 billion (TESTO2.6 billion), with an installed capacity of over 300 MW, marking a 150% increase from 2007. As of September 2009, figures released by the GSE, the Italian government agency supporting renewable energy sources, reveal that installed capacity has surpassed 600MW and is on target to reach 900MW by end of 2009. The solar thermal energy market (for low and medium temperatures) has also been enjoying growth: 280MW were installed in 2008, with approximately 4.3 million sq. feet of panels and a market value of €200 million ($290 million), representing a 66% increase from 2007.

Representatives from the trade commission’s Clean Technology Desk and the Investments Desk will be on hand to discuss what opportunities exist in the Italian market for foreign companies, such as renewable energy production, the construction of manufacturing plants for parts in the PV technology supply chain, partnerships with Italian industrial automation and mechatronics companies to develop innovative machines used in this supply chain, and collaborations with noted Italian research centers. A wide variety of informational material will also be available, including a report surveying Italian research infrastructures and early stage companies producing cutting edge research and innovation relating to solar technologies, as well as an overview of the Italian solar market.

The Italian companies hosted by the trade commission in booth # 3166, run a wide gamut; from Environment Park, an Italian research park and incubator and its affiliated R&D cluster PoLight, to the Piemonte Agency for Investments, Export, and Tourism, as well as a number of exemplary private companies, such as Archimede Solar Energy, Bongioanni Caldaie, Relight, Sunerg Solar, Ecoprogetti and Qubic. Representatives from the Polytechnic of Turin will also be present.

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For more information please visit www.SolarPowerInternational.com

Or Contact:

Claire Servini- Clean Technology Desk - cservini@italtrade.com
Valentina Petricciuolo- Investments Desk - vpetricciuolo@italtrade.com
Tel. 1 212 980 1500