US photovoltaics (PV) manufacturer Opel Solar has been contracted to supply units for two 1MW developments in Italy. The orders are worth nearly $5m and were placed by Swiss property and renewable energy joint-stock company Limen.
Delivery of the high concentration PV (HCPV) panels will begin at the end of this year for the projects which are both located in Sicily and the two companies will work together on planning, construction and commissioning of the sites.
Leon Pierhal, CEO of Opel, said, 'The collaboration between Opel and Limen in the Italian CPV market represents significant value growth for Opel Solar's stakeholders because of the HCPV potential in the Italian market. The Italian climate is ripe for CPV; it is one of the best areas in the world for our solar technology to be deployed."
Roberto Petti, head of the renewable energy division at Limen, added, 'We are very pleased to partner with Opel Solar in building CPV solar utility plants. We believe Opel Solar has the proven HCPV solar technology to be a market leader in Italy. Bringing an advanced solar energy technology to customers allows them to maximise their return on investments in green technology.'
Yesterday AES Solar completed financing worth €68m for PV projects in Italy and earlier in the month a new venture was formed between AXA Private Equity and Tozzi to invest in Italian solar projects.