“Installers are looking for products that are suitable for the new 5.0 plan for businesses. We have a very important request,” Michele Torri, president and CEO of Torri Solare, told pv magazine Italia.
PV Magazine Italia spoke with Michele Torri, president and CEO of Torri Solare. Torri explains that the group’s origins date back more than half a century, when the Torri family began manufacturing metal cleaning machines in Quinzano d’Oglio (BS). In 1999, Torri Technologies was founded, a group company specializing in mechanical processing. In 2007, the group invested in the production of photovoltaic panels and launched a production line capable of producing up to 80,000 panels per year.
You report producing panels, storage systems, and inverters. For each product category, what is the percentage of production in Italy?
We launched our first photovoltaic panel production plant in 2007 and manufactured exclusively in Italy until 2019, when we began to partially outsource production. In 2021, we acquired an industrial area of over 10,000 square meters, also in Brescia, which we renovated by investing in the latest technologies and transformed into our new technology hub. This is where the group’s strategic activities are based: corporate management, research and development, logistics, sales, and photovoltaic panel production. From October, 90% of our photovoltaic panels will be produced at the Brescia plant, while inverter and storage assembly will take place in Shenzhen and Taipei.
Do you buy photovoltaic cells? From whom?
Of course, just as we purchase all the other components needed to assemble a high-quality photovoltaic panel and durable storage systems. From glass to encapsulants to lithium cells, and all other materials. The photovoltaic cell remains one of the most important materials, but it is not the only one. Just consider that it accounts for less than 20% of the BOM cost of a high-quality finished product and, in some cases, less than glass. Our installer customers know this and look for a product where innovation is not just on paper but is tangible in the choice of every material. Suppliers are strategic for the company, so I cannot name names. However, I can say that for the cell, we have entered into a partnership directly with the wafer manufacturer, upstream of cell production. This gives us greater control over the quality of the silicon.
How many panels do you produce per year? What is the nominal capacity?
The production capacity of photovoltaic panels in Italy is approximately 60 MW. This year, we will place 30/40 MW on the market, a position that we aim to maintain and consolidate with our partner installers next year. We do not aim for excessive growth; our customers want exclusivity, service, and a local presence. These dynamics are not compatible with the market competition, which we find rather unrewarding. Industrialists, institutions, and important professionals choose our products for their unique characteristics and our market presence, not for the production capacity we declare on paper. Despite this, we have a very interesting share in the quality and high-efficiency range.
Do you think that the systems supporting Italian production of modules, inverters, and batteries are sufficient to cope with fierce competition and extremely low prices?
It is not an issue for our customers, so it is not an issue for us. Incentives are important, but they cannot be the driving force behind the industry. Our driving force is the high quality of the products we manufacture for our network of partners. We know that bans and incentives still leave room for companies that, without investments or assets, use counterfeiting as a competitive driver. Our family name is our brand, that is the point.
How could national production be further supported?
Do you perceive a greater focus on production in Italy? What is the feedback from customers?
Installers are looking for products that are suitable for the new 5.0 plan for businesses. We have a very important request. There is interest and there is widespread fear of encountering false commercial initiatives and counterfeit products.
In general, do you think that renewable energy communities are a useful tool for Italian panel manufacturers? Why?
They are among the most important innovations of recent years. There is always a need for them to be systemic opportunities and not just speculative ones. In this sense, I am sure they will have a future. We are already seeing positive signs.
Any other thoughts? Any other messages?
Our products are in category b) of 5.0 with TOPCon cells with efficiency > 25%.
Source: PV magazine