The presence of a solar plant brings benefits to the territory and to the economy, both in terms of employment throughout the production chain and through the income generated and guaranteed by the different phases of the project: from the initial development to the operation and maintenance of the plants, including, obviously, the installation phase. This also makes it possible to reduce energy imports. Among the most advantageous prospects is the possibility of realising hybrid plants, in which photovoltaic energy is combined with another renewable energy source such as wind and hydroelectric power, or with battery systems for storage and plants for the production of green hydrogen.

The electricity grid already manages variability according to customer demand, which changes during the course of the day and from day to day. Solar energy changes predictably during the alternation between day and night and between seasons and, less regularly, according to weather conditions: all of this marginally increases the variability in terms of electricity system output. Most of the changes in solar energy production are compensated for by other sources of supply or by the opposite variations in electricity demand, according to demand response programmes. Thanks to sophisticated electronic controls, modern solar parks can ensure grid reliability similar to that provided by conventional fossil-fired power plants. In addition, advances in energy storage can mitigate the intermittency of renewables without the need to burn fossil fuels. Finally, over longer periods of time, such as an entire year, the amount of solar energy that can be produced is more regular and predictable.

Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element in the universe, but it is always in the company of other elements, so it can be obtained from a wide variety of raw materials. Using water as a raw material and electricity as an energy source, the water molecule can be broken down into oxygen and hydrogen through the process of electrolysis.

If the electricity needed for the electrolysis is obtained from renewable energy sources, the hydrogen obtained is called green hydrogen, since no polluting gases are emitted into the atmosphere during the production process.