The European Commission is currently reviewing new regulations formulated by Italy for the agricultural photovoltaic industry. These new regulations specify which "innovative agricultural photovoltaic systems" can enjoy the 1.1 billion euros (approximately 1.2 billion US dollars) agricultural photovoltaic industry rewards provided by the Italian government. To support innovative agricultural photovoltaic solutions, the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security has announced a new incentive plan. The Italian government has submitted these new regulations to the European Commission and is currently waiting for EU approval. This plan is part of the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), with a budget of 1.1 billion euros and should be sufficient to deploy approximately 1.04GW of photovoltaic installed capacity by June 2026. Only agricultural photovoltaic projects with vertical installation structures or efficient innovative photovoltaic modules are eligible to participate in this program. The selected developer will receive a subsidy of up to 40% of the initial cost of purchasing and installing photovoltaic systems. These developers will receive on-grid electricity price payments based on the electricity they transmit to the grid. The new law also defines "advanced agricultural photovoltaic systems". These systems must include innovative installation solutions - that is, installing solar modules on the ground without affecting the continuity of agricultural production. In summary, the new regulations define "advanced agricultural photovoltaic systems" as complex systems that can enhance production potential while ensuring the continuity of agricultural activities.

According to a research report jointly released by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (SPE) and the German consulting agency Energy Brainpool, high interest rates and huge capital expenditures will average the installed photovoltaic systems in some EU member states (Germany, Spain and Italy) in 2022. The payback time is extended to around 20 years. Christophe Lits, market analyst at the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (SPE), analyzed the data. In a recently published study on the symbiosis effect of rooftop PV systems and heat pumps, the Society of the European Photovoltaics Industry (SPE) analyzed the payback times for rooftop PV systems installed in 2022 in Germany, Spain and Italy. The energy modeling for this study was carried out by Energy Brainpool and considered three different scenarios. The report reviews a "fossil fuel dump" scenario, in which global natural gas demand falls sharply, leading to lower fossil fuel prices. The report envisions a "new normal" scenario in which gas prices remain at current levels. In addition, the report examines a "return to crisis" scenario, in which natural gas prices rise to high prices in autumn 2021. The report pointed out that the average installed capacity of rooftop photovoltaic systems installed in Germany in 2022 will be 8kW, and 7kW in Spain and Italy. The model shows that under the "new normal" scenario, the payback time for installed rooftop PV systems in Germany is about 18 years, 19 years in Spain, and 14 years in Italy. Under the “fossil fuel dumping” scenario, the payback times are 20, 25 and 17 years, respectively. In the “return to crisis” scenario, rooftop PV systems have the lowest payback times: 17 years in Germany, 12 years in Italy, and 11 years in Spain. Christophe Lits, market analyst at the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (SPE), said: "We were surprised by the results of the study on the payback time of rooftop PV systems, because we often hear that the payback period of rooftop PV systems is less than 10 years. The model considers All factors up to 2022: capex prices, electricity prices, interest rates, feed-in tariffs, tax rebate schemes, etc. As for how to calculate the return on investment time, it is only necessary to know how much the household user pays for the rooftop photovoltaic system, and does not need electricity from the grid. how much power to procure in. Then, just consider how many years it will take for the cost savings to reach the total capex.” According to Liets, there are three main factors leading to an increase in the payback time for rooftop PV systems installed in the three countries in 2022: high capital expenditure, assumed to be 1600 EUR/kW (excluding VAT); Lower electricity prices; and high interest rates for using loans to buy PV systems. "When we talk to PV developers about payback times, they're not really looking at all the differences in subsidies or the capex price increases, they're basically looking at how muc...

The South Korean Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy (MOTIE) approved a solar panel recycling program at a ministerial meeting held by Prime Minister Han Duk-soo a few days ago. It is reported that the new regulations establish a standardized collection system for each major region of the country to ensure that the recycling/reuse rate of waste solar panels exceeds 80%. At the same time, the plan also laid the foundation for the creation of a departmental statistical system. The scheme aims to encourage the full reuse of solar modules before their final recycling. At the same time, it will also introduce certification under the framework of the Ecological Assurance System (ECOAS), which restricts the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. The South Korean government predicts that by 2025, photovoltaic waste will reach 1,222 tons, 2,645 tons in 2027, 6,796 tons in 2029, and 9,632 tons in 2032; as of the end of December 2021, the country’s installed solar capacity will reach approximately 22GW About 4.4GW of new photovoltaic installed capacity will be added in 2021; 30.8GW of solar power generation facilities will be installed by 2030.

Portugal's Fixando service platform, which facilitates the installation of rooftop solar systems, expects demand for renewable energy to soar by 180%  by the end of the year.   Rising gas and electricity prices have led consumers to invest in renewable energy, and companies have similarly raised prices in the face of unprecedented demand and a shortage of skilled labor. "Prices for professionals and companies are increasing exponentially, mainly due to scarcity of labor and materials," said Alice Nunes, director of new businesses at Fixando.According to Fixando, 55% of applications completed through its platform in July went unanswered. And less than 10 percent of the companies listed on the app offer new appointments.Applications registered on Fixando are mainly from Lisbon (17%), Porto (15%), Setubal (10%), Aveiro (9%), Braga (8%) and Leiria (8%) . The majority of users (89%) seek services for properties larger than 100 square meters. Despite the price hike, 42% plan to connect solar panels to the grid, with only 25% preferring to stay off-grid.Fixando conducted the study between July 1 and August 25, surveying 2,600 users and 1,200 professionals registered on its platform.