Italy is looking to get a solar energy boost from Enel Green Power, which just announced plans to construct two large concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. But Italy's still got a ways to go to catch up with the CSP world leaders.
Solar thermal power plants have their supporters and skeptics. They offer utility-scale power from solar energy, providing the opportunity to produce more electricity from clean, renewable energy than would be produced on rooftops alone. But they come with a pretty hefty price tag, too.
After years of development, such plants are starting to get off the drawing board. Gemasolar recently announced that the first 24/7 solar thermal power plant in the world was completed in Spain, a 19.9-MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant. Now, Italy's renewable energy giant Enel Green Power (EGP) has announced plans to build two CSP plants of a similar size.
While EGP currently generates about 80 percent of its power from wind energy, it is looking to increase its solar energy share now that utility-scale solar is becoming cheaper and more viable, and supported by the EU.. (and I imagine Italy's rejection of nuclear power doesn't hurt either).
The two projects EGP announced on Friday are a 30-MW plant and a 25-MW plant in Italy. Both projects rely on EU funding, which is not yet guaranteed but expected.
