Energetic and economic analysis of photovoltaic systems and electric heating and cooling in Italy

In 2011 in Italy a new version of the feed-in tariff for PhotoVoltaic energy systems was approved. This long awaited law, the so called “Conto Energia”, introduced in Italy first in 2005, has been renewed in 2007, in 2010 and recently in 2011 with a forth version, for systems of rated power greater than 1 kWp. Actually, the incentives last for 20 years and they are directed to the whole quantity of energy produced by the PV plant, apart from the latter is self consumed or not (at least till 2012). It is expected a premium for an efficient use of the energy: if the owner of plants coupled to buildings with energy performance certificate realizes energy saving interventions for reducing 10% at least primary energy consumptions both for space heating and space cooling, the feed-in tariff is increased by half of such primary energy reduction percentage, with a limit of 30% increase. Therefore, such consumers face up to an interesting chance that is to fulfill to their heating (and cooling) requirements with electricity driven machines, such as electric heat pumps. Of course, the point of discussion is the entity of the PV incentives related to the rate of natural gas (that is the most common fuel used for heating purposes in Italy). Such a new scenario is discussed in terms of energetic and economic analysis, varying the size of the PV plant in order to maximize the economic investment in different climate conditions.