Enel has begun testing of solar thermal generation with the Archimede Project, which is under way at Enel's Priolo Gargallo (Syracuse) plant.

According to the company, this is the world's first example of a combined-cycle gas plant integrated with a solar plant, based on a technology developed by ENEA (Italian Governmental Agency for Energy Research). (In the past, it has been shared that this thermoelectric plant is composed of two units of 380 MWe capacity each (250 MWe gas turbine line and 130 MWe steam line) and the "Solar Field" will consist of 72 parabolic solar collectors with a total active surface of about 40,000 square meters).

Enel shared the same as it announced the birth of Enel Green Power, a Group company which will focus on developing and operating power generation from renewable resources in Italy and around the world. 

Enel Green Power is currently analysing the benefits of the various options available, such as semiconductor alternatives to silicon that can achieve very high levels of efficiency, as well as concentration systems with heat recovery.

The new company's business incorporates all of Enel's activities in the wind, solar, geothermal, run-of-the-river hydroelectric and biomass fields in Europe, North America and Central and South America. Enel Green Power also controls Enel.si, anoperator in photovoltaic and solar thermal power, with a market share of 35 percent.