Press release 2009

GREENERGY EXPO ED ENERSOLAR+, BUSINESS WITHOUT EMISSIONS
Press release no. 138/09
(08/10/2009)

Two fairs for a single important event on renewable energies

Renewable energies are growing all over the world and there are more and more people who are observing this sector with great interest. The opportunities that this sector offers, I fact, are numerous, and combine business with respect for our environment. From 25 to 28 November Milano will, this year, be able to count on an event able to offer a vast panorama of solutions that enable to "produce energy while saving our Planet".
At fieramilano, Rho, in fact, Greenergy Expo, the new event dedicated to renewable energies will take place, which will be made up of different halls dedicated to the biogas industry; energy from wood; mini hydro-electric plants; the pellet industry; co- and tri-generation; geothermal energy and heat pumps; the free energy market. EnerSolar+, the fair focussed on photovoltaics and solar thermal power, organized by Artenergy Publishing and Fiera Milano Tech, will also take place alongside Greenergy Expo. Both these events will have on show renewable energies in the most immediately realizable applications, also aimed at end users. For this reason, the show will continue until Saturday.

"Events in the event"
During Greenergy Expo 2009, a vast panorama on the world of renewable energies will be offered by Casa Energia, which will have on show technological solutions for energy saving. The event is aimed at end users and operators interesting in developing a new concept of living that combines environmental sustainability, comfort and wellbeing. In particular, it is an opportunity for visitors to get in-depth knowledge about how a house can produce energy and be self-sufficient, to be updated on the new Italian and European directives regarding energy saving, to see first hand the products, plants, technologies and services on show at the fair.
During Greenergy Expo and EnerSolar+, there will also be additional events that will be ad additional stimulus for visitors. The Casa EcoLogica PAEA (Progetti Alternativi per l'Energia e l'Ambiente - Alternative Projects for Energy and the Environment) show, for example, organized by the Energie und Umweltzentrum (Centre for Energy and the Environment) of Springe-Hannover (Germany) will stop in Milan at Greenergy Expo ed EnerSolar+. This is the largest and most complete travelling show of Europe on these topics and has already been visited by more than 350,000 people in 200 cities of five different European countries. The structure of the show recreates a house with functioning energy and water systems, fuelled by renewable energies. The Casa EcoLogica PAEA demonstrates, for example, solar collectors for the production of hot water, a very high power concentrating solar oven, which reaches up to 250 degrees, photovoltaic panels and a wind energy generator for the production of electricity.
Greenergy Expo and EnerSolar+ will also include EnerJob 2009 - energy provides jobs, an exhibition area for head hunters, universities, institutions which organize master and training courses in the renewable energies sector. According to a study from IEFE Bocconi carried out on behalf of the GSE (Gestore Servizi Elettrici - Electricity Services Management) on the bases of the levels of investments, by 2020 this sector will create from 100,000 to 250,000 new jobs, since the rapid growth has caused an increasing demand for professionals with specialist competencies. In order to favour the meeting who operate in the renewable energies sector, and for this reason we have set up EnerJob 2009 - energy provides jobs.

Growth in solar energy

Photovoltaics is the sector of renewable energies that is seeing the strongest growth. 2009 will be a decisive year for the Italian photovoltaic industry. In fact, the definition of new rules regarding incentives for the production of electricity from renewable sources is imminent, and will substitute, as of January 2011, the energy account introduced in February 2007.
According to Roberto Longo, president of APER (Associazione Produttori Energia da Fonti Rinnovabili - Association of Producers of Energy from Renewable Sources) "in 2008, the photovoltaic sector had already seen considerable development, also confirming for this current year an absolutely positive trend. With regards to installations, considerable growth rates have been seen for both national and regional plant installations, which could lead to the overcoming of the maximum limit of 1,200 MW in 2010. A strongly expanding Italian market, therefore, certainly more than expected, that is taking our country, in terms of production from renewable energy sources to the level of national leaders such as, for example, Germany. Real protagonist of this development has certainly been the New Energy Account, which has laid down the foundations for a mature growth of the solar-photovoltaic sector in Italy too. It is also important to know how to deal with the problems of this sector, which certainly exist," continues Longo. "To start with, if, on the one hand, Italy finally has an efficient incentive system, which has without doubt contributed in creating the economic need for the birth of a national production chain to help overcome the economic crisis that has hit us, on the other hand is still suffering from the inadequacy of many rules and regulations for the authorization of plants and from the great difficulties in the procedures regarding connection to the electricity grid. And these are not the only barriers. We must therefore put our country in the condition to be able to take advantage as soon as possible of the important opportunities offered by photovoltaics, demonstrating how it is possible to develop the sector gaining considerable and certain benefits, other than in environmental terms, also in terms of industry-level competitiveness."
There is also good news from thermal solar energy, as confirmed by Sergio D’Alessandris, president of Assolterm (Associazione Italiana Solare Termico - Italian Association of Thermal Solar Energy) according to whom "thermal solar energy is a sector that creates wealth, innovation and jobs, and has all the potentials to have an important effect on the reduction in the use of fossil fuels. What is lacking in Italy, is that it is no longer possible to postpone the publication of the 20-20-20 Directive, an energy policy that defines and implements a coherent and integrated legal outline for renewables. In countries with less sunshine such as Germany and Austria, in fact, the level of distribution and knowledge regarding this technology is definitely higher than in Italy. On the other hand, compared to other European countries, the application of thermal solar power has, inexplicably, still few applications in Italy." A paradox for a country that reaches, in some areas, levels of solar irradiation among the highest in the world.
Valeria Verga, general secretary of Assolterm, adds that "thermal solar energy is growing and developing in terms of installed power, turnover, occupation, innovation. In 2008, 421 square metres, equal to 295 MWh, were installed, and the total installed power is more than 1 GWh, equal to 1.5 million square metres installed. In the last two years, the market has grown 126%. This positive data regarding sales in 2007 in 2008 in absolute (which makes Italy the second market in Europe for thermal solar energy) must, moreover, be realistically placed alongside to the data regarding surface area of collectors installed per inhabitant, a value that still remains very low (18 kWh/1000 inhabitants) and that really demonstrates all the growth potential of this technology, in consideration of the extremely favourable climatic conditions of our country."

Synergies

Until Friday 27 November, alongside Greenergy Expo and EnerSolar+ HTE-Hi.Tech.Expo, the show dedicated to the world of science, research and advanced technologies, will also take place, made up of different complementary and specialized fairs. The day before the inauguration of these fairs, INVEX 2009, the first event in the world dedicated to the inverter industry, will also take place, which will attract the operators of a sector in which Italy plays a very important role. Tuesday 24 November will also see the start of the international conference entitled Renewables & Energy Efficiency Summit, organized by Business International, and which will also continue the following day.

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