Renewable Energy Regulations

During the recent Key Energy 2025 held in Rimini, Italy (Pergosolar was present in Hall B5, booth 345), a significant extension regarding Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) was announced. The deadline to submit applications and access incentives under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRP) has officially been moved from March 31, 2025 to November 30, 2025. This time extension allows municipalities of up to 30,000 inhabitants to better organize themselves to apply and benefit from the available funds.

What are CERs and how do they work?

Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) are groups formed by citizens, businesses, local governments and other territorial entities that join together to produce energy from renewable sources (mainly photovoltaic, wind, biomass) and share it among participants. The goal is to promote energy self-sufficiency, reduce electricity bill costs, and increase environmental sustainability at the local level.

How is energy shared?

• Energy produced by ERC facilities is consumed locally by community members, lowering the cost of energy drawn from the external grid.
• The Gestore dei Servizi Energetici (GSE) values shared energy by offering specific economic incentives.
• Participants can take advantage of collective self-consumption, even if they are not physically close to the facilities due to the recently introduced remote self-consumption mechanism.

Who can participate?

• Private citizens, enterprises and SMEs;
• Local governments such as municipalities, provinces, and regions;
• Consortia, cooperatives and reclamation agencies.

New conditions of access to incentives:

• Extension of PNRR funding to municipalities of up to 30,000 inhabitants;
• Introduction of remote self-consumption that allows greater flexibility in configuring CERs;
• Opportunity for consortia and reclamation agencies to apply for projects.

Economic incentives available:

ERCs are mainly eligible for two incentives:

1. Capital grant: up to 40 percent of eligible costs, financed directly from NRP funds.

2. Incentive tariff: provided by GSE for each MWh of shared energy. The tariff varies:

• Up to €120/MWh for systems of less than 200 kW;
• Up to €110/MWh for systems from 200 kW to 600 kW;
• Up to €100/MWh for systems greater than 600 kW.

These incentives make investing in shared renewable energy facilities particularly beneficial, greatly accelerating the payback and reducing the financial risk for participants.

Why invest in an ERC now?

• Immediate reduction in energy costs;
• Tax and financial benefits from state incentives;
• Concrete contribution to the energy transition and environmental sustainability of their area.

Official sources:

• The Republic
• The Nation