Italy’s total solar power generation capacity may reach 8,000MW by the end of 2011, according to the country’s state energy services agency GSE.

GSE said that the new capacity will allow the country to achieve its 2020 target for photovoltaic capacity, reports Reuters.

At the end of 2010, Italy’s solar power capacity surged to 3,000MW from 1,142MW in the previous year.

Including the capacity installed by the end of 2010, which has not yet been connected to the grid, the total capacity would rise to 7,000MW.