Italy Bi-facial Solar Market Overview, 2031

Market Insights on Italy Bi-facial Solar Market

• Italy's bifacial solar market has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of the nation's energy transition, with Italian grid operator Terna reporting cumulative photovoltaic capacity reaching 43.5 GW by December 31, 2025. The country deployed 6,437 MW of new PV capacity during 2025, according to data released by Terna and elaborated by the national PV association Italia Solare. Of this cumulative total, residential systems account for 27% (11,627 MW), commercial and industrial installations represent 43% (18,850 MW), and large-scale utility plants comprise 30% (13,036 MW).
• According to the research report, "Italy Bi-facial Solar Market Overview, 2031," published by Bonafide Research, the Italy Bi-facial Solar market is anticipated to add USD 389.54 Million by 2026–31. Bifacial modules now appear in approximately 45% of ground-mounted arrays across the country, improving yields by 10-15% through rear-side light capture. The technology's evolution has been propelled by Italy's updated Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (INECP), which targets 80 GW of cumulative PV capacity by 2030. The market's growth trajectory has been remarkable, with annual additions climbing from 0.94 GW in 2021 to 5.23 GW in 2023 and 6.8 GW in 2024. The final quarter of 2025 saw an acceleration in connected capacity, with approximately 2.4 GW added out of the total 6.4 GW installed during the year.
• The utility-scale segment recorded 15% growth, with 3,412 MW connected in 2025 compared to 2,910 MW in 2024, reflecting the wave of authorizations issued in recent years. Plants above 10 MW showed strong acceleration, with connections in the final quarter alone (1,031 MW) exceeding the combined total of the previous three quarters (688 MW). The Italian government's supportive policies, combined with structured tender mechanisms administered by the Gestore dei Servizi Energetici (GSE), have created a robust project pipeline that continues to expand.

Competitive Landscape of Italy Bi-facial Solar Market

• Enel's 3Sun facility in Catania, Sicily, stands as Europe's largest solar panel factory, operating an HJT cell production line since 2018 that has been continuously expanded. The 2026 Italian budget law has introduced significant changes to the Iperammortamento fiscal incentive, limiting eligibility to European-made HJT bifacial panels with cell efficiency above 24%, giving 3Sun a strategic advantage in the domestic market.
• Laura Sartore, vice president of the European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC), confirmed that Enel/3Sun, supported by HJT cells, is playing it safe with this advantageous position. RWE has emerged as a key developer, winning three new Agri-PV projects totaling 30.2 MWac through the PNRR auction Acquafredda 2 (11.7 MWac) in Campania, Enna Piscopo (9.5 MWac) in Sicily, and Cave (9 MWac) in Calabria. These projects will utilize raised mounting structures, with two featuring high mobile tracker structures and the third employing a fixed-tilt elevated structure compatible with agro-pastoral integration.
• Paolo Raia, Country Chair of RWE Renewables Italia, emphasized that Italy is at the forefront of Agrivoltaico development.
• Zelestra officially opened the 6.5 MWdc agrivoltaic Ginosa plant in Puglia the first fully operational project in the company's Italian portfolio generating 11.7 GWh of clean energy annually.
• UniCredit has financed 4.7 MW of agrivoltaic projects in Sicily with €4.7 million. The entry barriers include stringent carbon footprint requirements and the complexity of the new FER X decree framework, which supports up to 37.15 GW of new renewable capacity with 10 GW specifically allocated for photovoltaic projects. Consumer adoption patterns reveal clear segmentation, with bifacial technology overwhelmingly preferred in utility-scale ground-mounted projects and increasingly specified for agrivoltaic applications.

Italy Market Dynamics

Driver: FER X Decree and Structured Tender Mechanism
Italy's bifacial solar market benefits from the finalized FER X mechanism, which establishes a long-term support framework for renewable energy technologies with generation costs close to market competitiveness. The decree, signed by Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, sets a maximum quota of 37.15 GW of new renewable capacity, with 10 GW specifically allocated for photovoltaic projects. The first FER X solar auction allocated 7.7 GW at an average price of €0.05682/kWh, attracting 1,387 project proposals with a combined capacity of 17,537 MW. The second auction awarded 1.1 GW across 88 selected projects from 273 proposals totaling 3.16 GW. This structured framework creates a stable investment environment that encourages bifacial technology adoption.

Challenge: Iperammortamento Policy Controversy and Technology Exclusion
Italy's bifacial solar market confronts significant controversy surrounding the 2026 budget law's Iperammortamento tax incentive, which limits eligibility exclusively to European-made HJT bifacial panels with cell efficiency above 24%. Mainstream module technologies including TOPCon and BC modules are excluded. Eleven European solar module manufacturers have urged Italy to revise this rule, arguing it unfairly favors heterojunction technology, risks higher costs, and limits competition across the PV market. Nicola Baggio, technical and special projects director at Italy-based TOPCon and BC module maker FuturaSun, confirmed the new rules give 3Sun a strategic advantage. Andrea Rovera, country manager of Gruppo Green Design, noted the regulation could be improved, particularly regarding European-made modules using European cells.



Trend: Agrivoltaic Expansion and Dual-Use Land Optimization
Italy's bifacial solar market is witnessing a transformative trend toward agrivoltaic development, where photovoltaic installations coexist with agricultural activities on the same land. Shell inaugurated its first two agrivoltaic plants in Italy's lower Veneto region, totaling 76.4 MW. The "Marco Polo Solar 2" project in Loreo has a generation capacity of 42 MW. RWE's agrivoltaic projects utilize raised mounting structures where sheep will graze or crops will be cultivated beneath the panels in a fully integrated energy-agricultural system that increases agricultural productivity and optimizes land use. The panels also offer protection from hail, frost, drought, and heavy rain. RWE will monitor system performance and collect meteorological and crop productivity data to advance the technology. Positive environmental compatibility assessments have been issued for two agrivoltaic projects totaling 96.55 MW in Sicily.

Segment Analysis

Italy Bi-facial Solar Market by Type
• Dual-glass bifacial modules represent the predominant product architecture in Italy's utility-scale and agrivoltaic markets, offering superior durability and rear-side light capture. RWE's agrivoltaic projects utilize approximately 47,000 solar modules installed on raised mounting structures. The double-glass construction provides enhanced protection against environmental degradation, making it particularly suitable for ground-mounted utility projects with 30-year operational lifespans. The technology's ability to capture reflected light from both the ground and adjacent surfaces delivers energy yield improvements of 10% to 15% in tracked systems.
• Glass-backsheet bifacial modules offer a lighter-weight alternative for applications where weight constraints are a consideration, with commercial and industrial rooftop installations representing the primary adoption segment. The technology continues to evolve, with manufacturers developing improved backsheet materials that enhance rear-side light capture while maintaining durability. The Italian commercial and industrial sector, representing 43% of cumulative installed capacity at 18,850 MW, provides a substantial market for glass-backsheet bifacial products.

Italy Bi-facial Solar Market by Cell Technology
• Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact technology remains widely deployed across Italy's bifacial market, with established manufacturing processes and proven reliability making it attractive for project developers seeking bankable technology. The technology's established position continues to support Italy's ambitious renewable energy targets, with cumulative photovoltaic capacity reaching 43.5 GW by December 2025. PERC bifacial cells benefit from mature supply chains enabling rapid deployment across utility-scale and distributed generation applications. The technology's predictable performance characteristics make it suitable for the diverse climate conditions across Italy's regions, from the Po Valley to Sicily. However, the Iperammortamento policy's exclusion of PERC technology from the enhanced tax incentive may future adoption rates.
• Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact technology has emerged as a next-generation architecture gaining traction in Italy's bifacial market, with modules achieving conversion efficiencies exceeding 24% and bifacial gains surpassing 85%. Industry projections indicate n-type modules including TOPCon are expected to reach 50% to 60% market share by 2030 and 70% to 80% by 2035. However, the Iperammortamento fiscal incentive explicitly excludes TOPCon and BC modules, limiting eligibility to European-made HJT bifacial panels. This policy creates an inconsistent playing field, as Laura Sartore of ESMC noted that efficiency values are measured differently some by cell efficiency and others by module efficiency creating measurement inconsistencies. The CTM (cell-to-module) value can represent loss or gain in the transition from cell to panel.
• Heterojunction technology has established a dominant position in Italy's bifacial market through strategic policy support, with Enel's 3Sun facility in Catania operating an HJT cell production line since 2018 that has been continuously expanded. The 2026 budget law's Iperammortamento incentive limits eligibility to European-made HJT bifacial panels with cell efficiency above 24%. HJT modules achieve conversion efficiencies of 23.7% through double-sided microcrystalline technology. The technology's superior temperature coefficient and bifaciality characteristics make it ideal for Italy's diverse climate conditions. 3Sun's strategic advantage in the Italian market has been confirmed by industry observers, though eleven European manufacturers have urged revision of the policy.
• Emerging cell technologies, including tandem perovskite modules, are covered under the Iperammortamento incentive framework. Tandem perovskite modules remain nearly absent on the market, though research continues at Italian institutions including ENEA, which maintains a module register. The technology's potential for exceeding single-junction efficiency limits makes it an area of active research interest. Italy's manufacturing base and research institutions continue to advance next-generation photovoltaic technologies, with potential for commercialization as manufacturing scales and costs decline. The structured tender framework provides a pathway for emerging technologies to achieve commercial deployment.

Italy Bi-facial Solar Market by End-User
• The utility-scale segment represents the dominant end-user market for bifacial solar technology in Italy, with 3,412 MW connected in 2025 compared to 2,910 MW in 2024, representing 15% growth. Plants above 10 MW showed strong acceleration, with connections in the final quarter alone (1,031 MW) exceeding the combined total of the previous three quarters (688 MW). The utility-scale segment accounts for 30% of cumulative installed capacity at 13,036 MW. The FER X decree's 10 GW allocation for photovoltaic projects provides a robust pipeline for future utility-scale developments. The GSE's first FER X solar auction allocated 7.7 GW at an average price of €0.05682/kWh. Bifacial technology has become the standard specification for utility-scale ground-mounted projects across Italy.
• The commercial and industrial segment represents the largest end-user market for solar technology in Italy, accounting for 43% of cumulative installed capacity at 18,850 MW. The segment includes offices, retail stores, hotels, hospitals, schools, universities, government buildings, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. The Iperammortamento fiscal incentive encourages companies to invest in PV systems linked to energy efficiency projects, though eligibility is now limited to European-made HJT bifacial panels. The commercial and industrial sector's substantial installed base provides a significant market for bifacial technology adoption, particularly for flat-roof and ground-mounted installations where rear-side light capture provides meaningful energy gains.
• The residential segment represents 27% of cumulative installed capacity at 11,627 MW. Residential installations have stabilized at an average of 300 MW per quarter, representing a 24% reduction in capacity compared to 2024. The number of systems installed fell from 274,537 in 2024 to 198,667 last year. Bifacial technology adoption in the residential segment remains limited, as typical sloped rooftop installations provide modest bifacial gain compared to ground-mounted systems. The segment's growth is supported by Italy's broader push to accelerate renewables buildout amid energy-security and decarbonization goals. The 2025 total of 213,200 new installations represents a 25% decline from 283,914 in 2024.


Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2020
• Base year: 2025
• Estimated year: 2026
• Forecast year: 2031

Aspects covered in this report
• Bi-facial Solar Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Type
• Dual-Glass Bifacial Solar
• Glass-Backsheet Bifacial Solar

By Cell Technology
• PERC
• TOPCon
• HJT
• Others

By End-User
• Utility-Scale
• Commercial & Industrial
• Residential