Italy installed 1,439 MW of new photovoltaic capacity in the first quarter of 2026, reaching a cumulative capacity of 44,952 MW and a total of 2,216,994 grid-connected installations, according to data compiled by Italia Solare based on Terna’s Gaudì system.
Between January and March, 50,513 new systems were connected, in a context marked by a recovery in installations in February and March after a weak start in January, particularly in projects above 1 MW. However, the growth rate remains below what is needed to meet the target of 6–7 GW per year.
Market dynamics show increasing polarization. The residential segment (below 20 kW) continues to slow, with 313 MW installed in the quarter — 22% of the total — and 46,103 new systems, representing a 13% year-on-year decline.
By contrast, the commercial and industrial (C&I) segment (20 kW to 1 MW) installed 566 MW, accounting for 39% of new capacity, across 4,251 installations. This segment grew 24% compared with the same period in 2025, although it has not yet shown significant acceleration.
The largest contribution came from utility-scale installations (≥1 MW), which added 560 MW — also 39% of the quarterly total — across just 159 projects. Within this segment, plants above 10 MW are playing an increasingly important role.
However, on a year-on-year basis, both the residential (-13%) and utility-scale (-9%) segments declined, explaining the overall slowdown in the market.
“The first quarter confirms the downward trend observed in 2025 and, in any case, does not reflect the growth needed to reach 79 GW by 2030,” said Paolo Rocco Viscontini, president of Italia Solare.
The sector expects a recovery in the coming months, particularly in the residential and C&I segments, driven by rising energy costs. “Photovoltaics, together with storage, is the only technology capable of responding effectively and quickly to the needs of households and businesses to reduce electricity bills,” he added.
At regional level, Lombardy remains the leading region in cumulative capacity, exceeding 6,000 MW (6,017 MW), followed by Veneto (4,510 MW) and Lazio (4,214 MW).
In terms of new capacity installed in Q1 2026, the top-performing regions were:
Lombardy also led in the number of new installations (7,712), followed by Veneto (6,740) and Emilia-Romagna (4,632).
In per capita terms, the strongest regions were Marche, Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Piedmont.
Year-on-year analysis shows steep declines in several regions. Sardinia recorded a 276% drop in new installed capacity compared with Q1 2025, followed by Lazio (-199%) and Umbria (-114%).
By contrast, growth was seen in Marche (+58%), Tuscany (+45%), and Calabria (+44%), alongside notable increases in Lombardy, Veneto, and Piedmont.
Overall, the Italian solar PV market shows mixed signals: growth in certain segments and regions, but still far from the pace required to meet 2030 deployment targets.
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