WIND + SUN IN ITALY

Is synergy a gimmick or the next evolution in New Energy? Synergy is adding 1 + 1 and getting more than 2.

Moncada Energy Group wants to add solar energy to its wind energy installations in Italy. This “double-harvest” will add solar energy-generated power to 105 megawatts of wind energy-generated electricity. (The article cites Moncada Energy's claim of building "400 megawatts" of solar power. Doubtful. Maybe 400 kilowatts.)

Adding solar energy and wind energy is not simple addition. It requires sophistication with both energy forms and the infrastructure each requires. Mastering the complicated math will allow Moncada Energy to generate power from the strongest sun during afternoon hours and from the strongest winds during late night and early morning hours. By having the capacity to generate around the clock, Moncada Energy’s installations become more useful than either type of installation would be separately.

(Yes, the solar collectors will lose some capacity due to shadows cast by the turbine towers.)

Moncada Energy’s partnership with California-based Applied Materials in this development is an example of how, as Italy ramps up its feed-in tariff, companies from all over the world will move in to build solar capacity.

In addition to Applied Materials, China’s SunTech Power has been active in Italy, last year building a 750-kilowatt system in a green building project in Pozzallo in Sicily.

SunPower, another California company and Applied Materials' partner in recent U.S. projects, said last month it had established a market for 2009 in Italy that will match its big sales this year in Spain.

It will be interesting to see what happens in these markets as the U.S.'s newly-extended investment tax credit starts to impact demand.

click to enlarge

Twice as Nice: Combining a Wind Farm and Solar Energy in Italy; Moncada Energy wants to add solar panels to its wind farms
Larry Greenemeier, September 30, 2008 (Scientific American)

WHO
Moncada Energy Group; Applied Materials, Inc.; SunPower; SunTech Power

WHAT
Moncada Energy Group wants to break the pattern of 1-energy New Energy installations by installing solar panels in the fields where it is building wind turbines.

Italy has sun. (click to enlarge)

WHEN
- 1991: Moncada was founded.
- 2005: Moncada’s first wind installation began production.
- 2007: 4 Moncada wind installations began production.
- By the end of 2008: Moncada Energy intends to have a combined solar/wind installation in operation.
- 2010: Moncada Energy thin-film plant to begin construction.

WHERE
- Moncada Energy is based in Agrigento, Italy. It’s 1st wind project was in Monte Mele. It also has producing projects in Monte Malvizzo, Monte Dura, Monte Narbone and Altopiano Petrasi.
- The planned Moncada Energy thin-film plant will be in Campofranco, Sicily.

WHY
- One impulse behind Moncada Energy’s innovation is to obtain energy from strong night winds and powerful daylight sun.
- By building solar and wind together, they can use much of the same electrical infrastructure.
- Moncada Energy’s turbines: 180.4 feet (55 meters) tall with 131.2-foot- (40-meter-) long blades.
- Applied Materials will supply the thin film solar panels. Its thin film technology, in conjunction with SunPower Corporation technology, has recently been used in large building integrated projects such as the Applied Materials headquarters.
- Moncada Energy will also build its own 538,200 square foot (50,000 square meters)
thin-film solar plant with the Applied Materials's SunFab thin-film production process to make 61.3-square-foot (5.7-square-meter) thin-film solar panels. The palnt will have a 40-megawatt/year production capacity.

Because Italy has a good feed-in tariff for solar, it makes sense to build solar in Italy. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Salvatore Moncada, Principal, Moncada Energy: "[The] panels will be used for our solar farm and placed under the towers in our wind farms…"
- Mark Pinto, chief technology officer, Applied Materials: "In a lot of places in the world…wind and solar energy collection are out of phase—the best time to collect wind energy is at night."