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The recent change in the Italian policies for photovoltaics: Effects on the payback period and levelized cost of electricity of grid-connected photovoltaic systems installed in urban contexts

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  • Orioli, Aldo
  • Di Gangi, Alessandra

Abstract

This paper provides an economic analysis of the investment in grid-connected PV (photovoltaic) systems installed on the rooftops of buildings located in densely urbanised contexts. The analysis was applied to some case studies that were selected as representative of the latitudes of the southern, central and northern Italy. The returns of the investment in PV systems were investigated with the aim of comparing the impact of the current PV policy, based on the tax credit scheme, with the FIT (feed-in tariff) scheme, in force until July 2013. The cash flows related to the disbursements and benefits during the lifetime of the investment were computed for each combination of orientation, tilt, roof shape and number of householders in the buildings. The pay-back periods referred to the totality of the PV systems of each case study were estimated.

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  • Orioli, Aldo & Di Gangi, Alessandra, 2015. "The recent change in the Italian policies for photovoltaics: Effects on the payback period and levelized cost of electricity of grid-connected photovoltaic systems installed in urban contexts," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(P2), pages 1989-2005.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:93:y:2015:i:p2:p:1989-2005
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2015.10.089
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