Italy breaks capacity record for the second year running

ITALY: The Italian wind industry set another record in 2009, with 1,114 MW in new capacity bringing the country's cumulative total to 4850 MW.

by Heather O’Brian 12 January 2010

A wind farm in Pedagaggi, Italy. (pic Gorilla Radio)

The previous annual new capacity record was set just in 2008, when a total of 1,010 MW was installed.  

According to a joint statement on 2009 capacity figures from ENEA, Italian wind energy association ANEV and other Italian renewable energy associations, preliminary figures showed wind energy accounted for 6.7 TWh of electricity production in 2009, or more than 2.1% of gross domestic consumption.  

The associations stressed that Italy’s wind energy performance was particularly significant since it had been achieved during a financial crisis. 

The 2009 showing is expected to allow Italy to maintain its distant third place for installed wind capacity in Europe, behind frontrunners Germany and Spain.  A possible challenger for the third place showing could be France, which will be releasing its 2009 capacity figures in February.

The island of Sicily experienced a boom in 2009, leading all Italian regions with roughly 340 MW installed.  Next came Apulia, with 212 MW in new capacity, and Calabria, with 197 MW.

Danish turbine manufacturer Vestas garnered the largest market share in 2009, with its turbines installed on Italian wind farms with capacity of 337 MW. It was followed by German manufacturers Enercon, with 207 MW installed, and Nordex, with 167 MW.