IBC Solar Opens Italian Offices
IBC SOLAR has opened its Italian subsidiary in Ancona. With this, the company aims to tap into the growing Italian market to further develop its network of specialist installers. Due to growing demand, the company has decided to supply the market directly through its own subsidiary in Italy. Hartmut Kuehn will run the Italian subsidiary as the Regional Head; Dr. Angelo Rivolta will assist him as Sales and Marketing Manager.
Over the past few years, Hartmut Kuehn has been assessing the Italian market for IBC SOLAR. IBC Solar has exhibited four times in succession at the Solarexpo in Verona to develop partnerships and to expand the business in Italy. Furthermore, IBC SOLAR has already successfully implemented several photovoltaic projects in the country, for example, in Rome (Centro Don Bosco, in cooperation with Energia Alternativa), in Nuoro/Sardinia (Don Bosco, in cooperation with Enersola) and in Potenza (Seminario Lucerna, in cooperation with A.C.i Service).
Since mid-September, Hartmut Kuehn has been assisted by Dr. Angelo Rivolta, Sales and Marketing Manager of IBC SOLAR Italy.
“In the long term we are planning to build a network of nationwide specialist installers similar to the one we have established in Germany,” explains Hartmut Kuehn. “Due to our trade fair appearances we have already established some good partnerships. In the next few years we will develop this network further in order to become one of the leading Italian photovoltaic businesses, similar to our position in Germany.”
“Italy offers ideal conditions for solar electricity generation. As a result, Italy will probably become the first country in Europe to achieve grid parity,” continued Hartmut Kuehn. The price of electricity is comparatively high in Italy, at around 0.23 €/kWh. With an average increase in prices of 6% every year, it is probable that in two years the Italian photovoltaic power stations will already have caught up with the production costs of conventionally generated electricity. Bearing this in mind, our expectations for growth for the Italian PV market are high. However, Italian banks are still restrictive in awarding credit loans for large-scale projects. For the future development of photovoltaics in Italy, new financing options need to be established.”
