The 2010 incentive decree (Decree Law Nr.40 dated 25th March 2010) provides for a range of measures to stimulate sales of energy saving systems and products.

The incentive system focuses on both citizens and companies. The scheme supports consumers who purchase energy saving, environmentally friendly or safer products whilst giving a boost to Industry in a period of recovery.

In the energy and automation sector, incentives were allocated for the purchase of 1 to 5 kW high efficiency motors, 0.75 to 7.5 kW inverters, UPSs and capacitor batteries. In total 10 million Euros are allocated while stocks last or until 31st December 2010.

Incentives are offered in the form of discounts from the product sales price. The amount of "bonus" for high efficiency motors varies, 20% from the sales price up to a maximum of 50 Euros. Consumers will get immediate benefit when they purchase from sellers who have joined the initiative.

For further information, please visit the web site of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development (Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico): http://incentivi2010.sviluppoeconomico.gov.it/

"We are satisfied with the 2010 Incentive Plan, because government regulations finally take 0.75kW to 5kW motors into consideration, unlike the 2008 Financial Act that unreasonably had excluded them" so explains Luca Trevisiol, Lafert Director. "Small motors are prevalent in the market and the use of the IE2 efficiency class will significantly help to achieve important goals in terms of energy saving. Unfortunately, the well known problem of the controls on the authenticity of the data on the nameplate remains unsolved".

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