Italian Joint Venture Established

Silfab Spa and Espe Srl have combine efforts by founding Espe Sunparc Srl, a company that specializes in the development and installation of photovoltaic plants in Italy and abroad. Silfab Spa, a provider of PV products and services based in Italy, and Espe Srl, a company in the field of design, production and management of solar power plants, made this announcement after signing a joint venture agreement that establishes their equal participation in Espe Sunparc Srl with headquarters in Paviola di S. Giorgio in Bosco (Padova, Italy). 

With a joint industrial value and background in turn-key PV plants that amount to 150 MWp represented by the founding companies, the newborn company is already a qualified international EPC, which already in 2011 is predicting the development of solar plants for a total output of about 70 MW, 30% of these outside Italy, with an overall turnover of more than 100 million Euros. Although in Italy Espe Sunparc will primarily focus on ground-mounted PV installations, the company will develop abroad a wide range of photovoltaic applications.

Espe SunParc doesn't just combine the know-how of the two companies, Silfab and Espe, with all their specialized technical knowledge, but also the unique experience of Franco Traverso, a pioneer in the solar PV sector in Italy for three decades. Traverso, currently serving as President and CEO of Silfab Spa, will hold the same position in the new company. He will be assisted by Tiziano Meneghetti, President and CEO of Espe, who takes on the role of Vice-President of the newly formed company. The collaboration between Mr. Traverso and Mr. Menegetti dates back to the very beginning of solar industry in the 80s - when the first, leading-edge PV plants were installed in Italy - and is now officially sealed through the establishment of this new company.

Espe Sunparc has already initiated negotiations around supplies with major international modules manufacturers and other components providers in preparation for a tight program of initiatives in the months to come. In Italy, the company is investing about 20 Million Euros in solar farms to be created in Sardinia, Apulia and Molise. Internationally, Espe has acquired the necessary authorizations for the production of 15 MW in Romania. Other projects are already in their implementation stage in Ontario (Canada), while several others are expected to launch shortly in several other countries. 

“Through the creation of Espe Sunparc, we consolidate a collaboration with Espe that has stood the test of time,” declares Franco Traverso, President of Silfab Spa. “This new venture allows us to integrate our experiences and converge in a single entity our know-how efficiently. I'm particularly proud to be able to play an active role in this new initiative that rounds off several years of work”. 

"Today the photovoltaic sector consists of many actors and innumerable products" - comments Tiziano Meneghetti, President of Espe - "only a few of these, however, are able to guarantee the quality of their products, based on tangible experience from three decades of operating in this field. Espe Sunparc is born from almost forty years of combined experience between Espe and Silfab. Our main concern is the serenity of our customers, and through our reliable and durable high-yield solutions, we can guarantee they'll feel satisfied".

At Espe Sunparc's headquarters in Paviola (Padova-Italy), the company operates a 3500 sq. m. production facility, which is integrated by the operational unit in Molfetta (Bari-Italy). In the U.S. and in Canada, the new company will be operating through Espe Sunparc America (soon to be incorporated).. Espe Sunparc currently employs 40 employees directly, and through outsourcing 150 additional collaborators. The company also runs a training program for 20 technicians to serve the international operations.