Climate change is no longer just a legend. Its effects have become visible in recent years, reminding us of how important it is to protect the environment, even on a large scale.
The biggest problem when it comes to pollution and environmental protection has always been energy, and the possibility of installing photovoltaic plants has long since become a national priority.
In fact, the urgency of the situation is highlighted by the introduction of measures aimed at simplifying the installation permits and financing the construction of such systems, thus providing incentives for their implementation.
The permit simplification measure
Among the priorities was the possibility of simplifying the authorisation procedures for the installation of the systems. These measures also establish which areas are suitable for the installation of photovoltaic systems.
The first action, taken at the end of 2022, when the “Aid Decree” was issued, therefore consisted of amendments to Legislative Decree no. 28 of 03/03/2011, which established the promotion of the use of renewable energy sources.
This amendment redefined the procedure for the authorisation of their use. This resulted in a Simplified Authorisation Procedure (PAS) for all ground-mounted photovoltaic installations meeting certain requirements:
- They must have an electrical power output of up to 20 MW if located in industrial, production, or commercial areas.
- They must have an electrical power output of up to 10 MW if they are located in areas defined as “suitable”, or else for agri-photovoltaic installations located 3 kilometres from industrial, artisan, or commercial areas.
If the installations do not fall within protected areas and comply with the limitations, the amendment to the decree stipulates that there is no longer a need to verify the submissibility of an Environmental Impact Assessment (more commonly called EIA).
Which areas are suitable for PAS?
The amendments to the decree thus led to talk of so-called “suitable areas”. But what are these suitable areas?
Art. 20 of Legislative Decree 199/2021 already discussed these areas, but the recent provisions extended the limitations to which they were previously subject. The following specifications have therefore been introduced:
- Suitable areas are defined as all areas classified as agricultural, and enclosed within a perimeter no more than 500 metres away from industrial, craft, commercial, quarry and mining areas.
- Suitable areas are also defined as all areas adjacent to the motorway network, provided that they are at least 300 metres away from it.
Financing and economic facilities for the construction of installations
The measures to incentivise the installation of photovoltaic systems are not limited to merely eliminating the bureaucracy surrounding the procedures and making the regulations clearer and simpler.
The government’s intention to promote the installation of photovoltaics and the use of renewable energy sources is also highlighted by its offer of financial and economic grants for their realisation.
The calls for tenders have been prioritised by Europe itself, and are directly derived from the NRRP. Among these, the following have been launched in recent months:
- The AGRISOLAR call for tenders, for the financing of photovoltaic systems at agricultural, livestock, and agro-industrial production facilities.
- The AGRIVOLTAIC call for tenders, for the financing of photovoltaic systems for farms, for self-consumption, innovative systems, on rooftops, and for the combined management of agriculture and energy production.
- The MITE call for tenders, for the upgrading of public buildings and the construction of photovoltaic systems for self-consumption.
In addition to these national calls for tenders, other regional ones have also been prepared, like in the case of Emilia Romagna, with:
- The RER call for tenders, for the upgrading of public buildings and the installation of photovoltaic systems for self-consumption.
- The RER call for tenders, for the energy upgrading of production facilities and the installation of systems for self-consumption.
- The RER call for tenders, for the construction of Renewable Energy Communities, with the aim of sharing excess energy produced by photovoltaic installation on self-consumption networks.
In conclusion
In a push towards green energy and eco-sustainability, Italy and its regions are committed to incentivising the increased use of renewable energy sources at the expense of polluting and non-renewable sources.
By introducing specific measures, they have reduced the bureaucratic process for installing photovoltaic systems, and incentives are also being offered.
This will not only contribute to a cleaner world, but can also help guide the nation towards energy independence, and lower energy bills.
For more information on the installation and use of photovoltaic systems, including for self-consumption, please contact Restart at info@restart-progetti.it or by certified e-mail at restartengineering@legalmail.it.