Conergy constructing its largest Italian roof project
Conergy is currently constructing its largest self- consumption plant in Italy to date. The 250 KW Conergy PV power plant is being installed on the 4,000 square meters of roof space of the factory halls of Gemata, a manufacturer of machines for leather processing in the North Italian community of Trissino in the Province of Vicenza in Veneto. The plant, which comprises 980 Conergy PowerPlus modules, will produce some 250,000 kilowatt hours of clean solar power each year once it has been connected up in March. Gemata will consume 75% of the power directly on site in its production facility. The company will be able to cover 75% of its total energy needs from the PV plant and will only need to cover 25% from the grid.
The power plant represents a first in two respects. It is the largest Conergy self-consumption plant for a commercial operation since the end of the Conto Energia V. Furthermore, Conergy is successively expanding its portfolio by financing solutions. For this plant, Conergy supported the business substantially with the provision of the financing as well as being responsible for the planning and design, the supply of the components as well as the construction, where the solar experts collaborated with their long-time partner Crea Italy.
"Financing solutions are becoming increasingly important in the solar industry these days," said Alexander Gorski, COO and CEO for Europe at the new Conergy holding company. "We are therefore in the process of developing such solutions in all countries where Conergy operates. In the USA, we have already set up a fund totaling USD 100 million. This pilot plant in Venetia is now the first step to establish a suitable solution in Italy as well. Thanks to our new ownership structure with Kawa, we shall be able to not only provide substantial support with the provision of financing of the Conergy plants, but also launch our own financing solution on the market in the near future "“ an absolute innovation in Italy."
"With the arrival of grid parity, the Italian market has become highly interesting for many end consumers even after the Conto Energia V has come to an end," said Giuseppe Sofia, Managing Director of Conergy in Italy. "For private households as well as small and medium enterprises, solar offers an opportunity to save on energy bills. But they frequently lack access to the necessary funds for the initial investment. We are therefore currently working on a solution whereby we can offer our business customers vendor loans "“ and therefore truly complete solutions."
