Economic analysis of small-size photovoltaic plants in Italy in the framework of the “Conto Energia”

Photovoltaic energy is on track to become fully competitive in the electrical system of the European Union (EU) and to become increasingly significant in the global energy mix. Unfortunately, much progress had been mixed in recent years, due to differing national regulations, incentive programs, the availability of money, variable funding opportunities. Like other European countries, also in Italy incentives to photovoltaic energy have evolved through the four versions of the so-called “Conto Energia” (Energy account), that since 2006 has progressively fostered the development of photovoltaic production till the recent boom that took place between 2010 and 2011. In this paper, a comparison is drawn between the payback times on investment in the photovoltaic trade in Italy, given the different incentives that have evolved over the years, the plant components, inflation and producibility in different geographical locations where the plant can be located.