- Six hectares of solar panels, 6 MW of power, an investment of 30 million euros, 7 million kilowatt-hours produced every year, capable of supplying the needs of 2,700 families while reducing CO2 emissions by 5,000 tonnes a year
- This initiative is part of Enels environmental project which aims at investing over 4 billion euros in renewable energy sources and research by 2011
Rome, 23 May 2007 Enel will invest 30 million euros to build a photovoltaic solar panel installation at Montalto di Castro (Viterbo), producing 6 MW. This will be the largest installation of the kind in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. It adds to Enels existing 3,3 MW installation at Serre Persano (Salerno), the first large-scale photovoltaic plant in Italy, which was opened in 1993 and is still running at full capacity.
The new installation will be constructed in the immediate vicinity of the never-completed nuclear power station and will cover an area of just under 10 hectares. It is scheduled to go on line on the first half of 2008, when the various modules will be activated progressively. The installation is expected to produce approximately 7 million kilowatt-hours per year, equivalent to the energy requirements of 2,700 families. The energy produced by the sun at Montalto will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere by almost 5,000 tonnes per year.
The installation has been designed and constructed by Enel.si, which has become a reference point, both directly and through its franchising network, for companies and private individuals involved in promoting photovoltaic and thermal solar technologies, and for energy efficiency and distributed generation solutions in general. In 2006 Enel.si installed solar power systems producing a total of 8.3 MW on behalf of clients in the industrial, domestic and service sectors, equivalent to approximately 40% of the total.
This initiative is part a five year (2007-2011) investment plan, totalling more than 4 billion euros, through which Enel aims to become the world leader in the development of innovative solutions for reducing the environmental impact of electrical energy production and distribution.
As of mid December 2006, Enel opened five new wind farms producing a total of 27 MW (+10% of Enels wind power) and two mini-hydro plants producing a total of 3 MW. Over more, in Italy, work has begun on three new wind farms that will produce a further 26 MW while restructuring and upgrading six mini-hydro plants in order to produce an additional 26 MW. In El Salvador a 44 MW geo-thermal power plant has also been opened.
Furthermore, during the first few months of 2007, Enel finalised the purchase of wind plants, which are either already in service or under construction, producing 127 MW of wind power in Greece, 250 MW of wind power in the United States (Kansas) and 27 MW in Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador), 77 MW in Spain (Galicia). Enel also acquired 150 MW of geothermal power in the United States (California, Utah, Nevada), and increased its holding in a company that produces 300 MW of hydroelectric power in Panama.
Continuing with the theme of renewable sources and energy saving, Enel is participating in the Lazio regional governments bio diesel project that intends to replace 20% of the diesel used for public transport in Rome with vegetable-based fuels, and has established a program aimed at distributing in 2007, 7 million energy saving light bulbs and 1 million water savers.
In the next few days Enel will present at Capraia le first initiatives of the Green Islands project aimed at the development of sustainable energy systems in small Italian islands. A project which will then be extended to the Eolian Islands.
When presenting this important new installation, Enels Ceo, Fulvio Conti, stated: This project confirms our commitment to the field of solar energy, where Enel has been a major player for over twenty years, developing increasingly efficient methods for harnessing the power of the sun.
The Mayor of Montalto di Castro, Salvatore Carai, pointed out how Montalto confirms its efforts in serving electricity to the country. On top of hosting the largest thermoelectric power plant, we will also host the largest solar power station in Italy. Thanks to the environmental quality of the installations, this achievement allows significant opportunities for integration between the industry and the local territory, while promoting development and respect for the environment .