Renewable energy flair a magnet for Italian firm

ROME－China's renewable energy sector is the largest and one of the fastest growing in the world, and Delta OHM of Italy will be helping to boost its efficiency after attending the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.

"It was an important step for us to play a role at CIIE," said Cristian Mazzero, the company's foreign trade manager. "We think CIIE is helping us lay the groundwork for the future. We won't know the details about how effective the participation was for some time, but we know China represents a tremendous growth opportunity for the company."

Delta OHM, based near the northern Italian city of Padova, produces a wide range of equipment used to measure the efficiency of wind turbines and solar panels, allowing energy companies to rapidly identify technical glitches and other problems.

The company already has a presence in China, but this year was the first time Delta OHM has participated in the CIIE fair.

Mazzero said the company's sales are divided, with about one-third in Italy and two-thirds overseas. However, this could change dramatically in the coming years as China's renewable energy sector rapidly grows.

According to data firm Statista, China had the world's largest renewable energy sector last year, with 895 gigawatts of installed capacity. That is three times larger than the equivalent sector in the United States, which had an installed capacity of 292 gigawatts. Brazil was next with 150 gigawatts, followed by India with 134, and Germany with 132. Italy, Delta OHM's home base, is further down the list with 55 gigawatts of installed capacity.

Mazzero said China remains a relatively small part of Delta OHM's overall business, representing around 2 percent of total global sales, which are projected to be worth about 10 million euros ($11.5 million) this year. However, with the help of smart business strategies that rely in part on events such as CIIE, Chinese sales are likely to grow even faster than the company's overall sales.

"The potential in China is incredible," Mazzero said. "I think the market could represent 10 percent of our sales within five years and then keep growing after that."

Xinhua