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The decree that stimulates the birth and development of renewable energy communities (Cer) and widespread self-consumption in Italy has been published by the Ministry of the Environment. It comes into force on January 24th after registration by the Court of Auditors and, previously, approval by the European Commission. As envisaged by the provision itself, within the next thirty days the operational rules that will govern the methods and timing of recognition of the incentives will be approved by the ministry, following verification by Arera on the proposal of the Energy Services Manager (GSE).
Gse managing body
The GSE, the entity managing the measure, will then put into operation the portals through which it will be possible to submit requests, within 45 days of approval of the rules. The text identifies two ways to promote development in the country of the Cers: a non-repayable contribution of up to 40% of the eligible costs, financed by the Pnrr and aimed at communities whose plants are built in municipalities under five thousand inhabitants which will support the development of two gigawatts in total, and an incentive tariff on renewable energy produced and shared throughout the national territory.
The two benefits are cumulative
The two benefits are cumulative. The measure will encourage the development of a total of 5 gigawatts of renewable energy production plants. The GSE will make documents and information guides available on its institutional website (www.gse.it), as well as dedicated support channels, to accompany users in the establishment of the Cers. In collaboration with Mase, it will launch an information campaign to make consumers aware of the benefits linked to the new mechanism: the first “step” is already online and consists of some “FAQs” to begin to orient citizens, small and medium-sized businesses, institutions, cooperatives and all other recipients of the measure. A simulator for the energy and economic evaluation of the initiatives will also soon be online on the GSE website, while the interactive map of the primary substations on the national territory is already available.
Pichetto: turning point for the development of renewables
«Renewable energy communities and widespread self-consumption – commented Minister Gilberto Pichetto – are two central cogs in the country’s energy transition: today we are therefore even closer to this long-awaited objective, which could truly provide a turning point for the development of renewables in Italy, strengthening their energy security and moving closer to climate objectives.”