Photovoltaic partnership

Enel and Sharp have formed a partnership to build a photovoltaic panel manufacturing plant in Italy using Sharp’s triple-junction thin-film technology.

The output of the plant, whose size and structure is currently being assessed by the two companies, will mainly go towards meeting the rising demand for photovoltaic panels in Italy, south Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean basin.

Enel will distribute the panels that are manufactured there through its franchising network of more than 370 affiliates to meet the demand from small and medium-sized enterprises and residential users.

And together, Sharp and Enel will also develop photovoltaic fields using the panels. Once fully in service, the plants will generate more than 220GWh of electricity per year, enough to meet the needs of 81,500 households.

Enel, Italy's largest power company, with more than 20,000MW of installed renewable capacity, plans to invest €7.4 billion in renewable energy by the end of 2012.