PVTIME – Italy’s Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE) has introduced the FER-X renewable energy support scheme, which came into force on 7 August 2026 following the European Commission’s approval of the country’s €23 billion renewable energy programme. The decree will provide 37.15GW of new renewable energy capacity through competitive tendering and price subsidy mechanisms, with 10GW earmarked for photovoltaic developments. Large-scale solar projects must comply with the supply-chain resilience requirements set out in the EU NZIA.
Of the overall capacity pool, a total of 27.15GW will be allocated via competitive processes, covering 10GW of photovoltaic, 16.5GW of wind, 0.63GW of hydropower, and 0.02GW of sewage-gas power generation. The legislative measure will remain in force until 31 December 2030. Support for photovoltaic projects below 1MW may end 60 days after the 10GW solar quota has been fully utilised, even if this occurs before the expiry date.
Project size determines eligibility pathways and price metrics, which are managed by Italy’s GSE energy agency. Solar installations under 1MW may apply directly for subsidies, while those above 1MW must take part in competitive auctions. Photovoltaic projects based on auctions operate with a reference strike price of €80/MWh, capped at €95/MWh, with a floor of €65/MWh. Additional price uplifts apply to specific schemes: €27/MWh for solar retrofits replacing asbestos roofing, and €10/MWh for floating photovoltaic assets.
At least 30% of the annual auction capacity for solar and wind is reserved for bids that satisfy the NZIA criteria, which assess responsible business practice, cybersecurity, delivery capacity, supply-chain robustness, and energy-system integration. Winning bidders must commission assets within 36 months of the publication of the results. Non-force majeure delays result in price reductions and missed deadlines may lead to disqualification and forfeiture of the security deposit. Two transitional FER-X auction rounds were held before full implementation, awarding 8.63GW and 1.1GW respectively. MASE has indicated that the procedural rules for the initial formal auction pre-qualification will be published shortly.
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