Solar Momentum in Italy: From Growth to Maturity
Written by Luisa Vallejo, Senior Consultant at Brightsmith.
For years, solar in Italy was a story of scale and subsidy. Now, it is evolving into a story of structuring, execution, and capital recycling. As the energy transition deepens across Europe, Italy is becoming an essential stage—and a proving ground—for the next generation of solar deployment.
Italy Today: A Solar Market in Momentum
Italy has re-emerged as one of Europe’s most dynamic solar markets:
At the end of 2024, the country had 37.08 GW of cumulative PV capacity, after adding 6.8 GW in that year alone.¹
In 2025, Italy crossed the 40 GW threshold, with more than 2 million grid-connected PV systems now in operation.²
Utility-scale growth is accelerating: 2024 saw a 163% year-on-year increase in large-scale installations.³
Yet Italy still lags Germany and Spain in mega-projects: since 2016, it has built ~6 GW of large plants compared to 20+ GW in each of those countries.⁴
The opportunity is enormous, but so are the hurdles. Permitting backlogs and grid bottlenecks continue to hold projects back, while new rules—such as restrictions on ground-mounted solar on agricultural land—add another layer of complexity.⁵
A Project Sale as a Lens
One recent transaction illustrates how the market is maturing. In September 2025, X-Elio sold its 50 MW Castelvetrano PV project in Sicily to Italian renewables firm PLT Energia.⁶
The project, expected to generate ~92 GWh annually, highlights a few trends:
Developers with global footprints are increasingly recycling capital by selling operational or late-stage projects.
Domestic players are consolidating assets, showing that local know-how and relationships are vital.
The market is no longer only about greenfield build—it’s also about active secondary transactions.
This isn’t about one developer; it’s about a broader shift. Liquidity, partnerships, and local execution are now defining features of Italy’s solar sector.
What Really Matters: Success Factors
So, what separates success from setback in Italy’s solar race?
Permitting & authorisations: Delays are the norm. Developers who engage stakeholders early and plan for long timelines are better placed.
Grid interconnection: Congestion and curtailment risks demand hybrid solutions and careful grid negotiation.
Capital: Institutional appetite is strong, but only for projects with robust governance and ESG credentials.
Offtake: Long-term PPAs remain important, but merchant risk is here to stay. Flexibility in contract structures is key.
Local partnerships: Italian regulatory and cultural expertise often makes or breaks a project.
Operations: O&M is not an afterthought. Performance guarantees and strong monitoring are vital for long-term value.
What This Means for Talent
From our vantage point in executive search and advisory, talent is the common denominator. Italy needs leaders who can bridge international best practice with local market fluency.
The most sought-after profiles now include:
Development leads able to navigate Italy’s complex permitting landscape.
Grid and storage specialists who can design projects for flexibility.
PPA and finance professionals experienced in structuring cross-border deals.
Operational managers who can safeguard long-term asset performance.
It’s these individuals who will determine whether projects clear hurdles or stall.
To meet EU and national targets, Italy may need 8–12 GW of new solar annually through the rest of the decade.⁴ This won’t be easy. But with hybridisation, new PPA models, and local-international partnerships, the sector has every chance of rising to the challenge.
From utility-scale developers to local operators, the next five years will test strategy, structure, and people as much as technology. And that’s where Brightsmith is ready to help.
Sources: ¹ pv-magazine.com ² strategicenergy.eu ³ pv-tech.org ⁴ reuters.com ⁵ ft.com ⁶ renewablesnow.com
Luisa Vallejo is a Senior Consultant at Brightsmith, specialising in renewable energy recruitment. She partners with pioneering companies across the energy transition to identify and secure the talent needed to scale innovative technologies within renewable energy across Europe.
