Italy

Italy has a Feed- in tariff for solar power: Decree of 19 February 2007 -- Criteria and arrangements to encourage the production of electrical energy by means of solar photovoltaic conversion, implementing article 7 of the legislative decree of 29 December 2003, No 387. (English)

Since 2007, Article 2, Comma 143 to 176 of the Budget Act introduced a small scall feed-in tariff for electricity from renewable sources except for solar power, see Legge 24 Dicembre 2007, n. 244. Disposizioni per la formazione del bilancio annuale e pluriennale dello Stato. Legge finanziaria 2008 (L 244/07) (Italian version).

Summary

In Italy, electricity generated from renewable energy sources is mainly promoted through a quota system (certificati verdi). However, two different feed-in tariff schemes are applicable under certain conditions:

Photovoltaic systems are especially promoted by the „conto energia per il solare fotovoltaico". This promotion system applies to the whole of Italy, but is limited to a maximum installed capacity of 1200 MW. As soon as the maximum installed capacity is reached, promotion is discontinued. The amount of payment depends on the system type and capacity and lies between 0.36 and 0.49 €. It may be increased for schools, public health institutions and systems mounted on buildings. Payments will be reduced by 2 or 4% for systems commissioned in 2009 or 2010. The period of payment lasts for 20 years.

Under the Italian Budget Act for 2008 (L 244/07) a small scale feed-in tariff for renewable sources other than PV was introduced. The entitled party are grid connected producers of less than 1 MW of renewable-energy-sourced electricity per year. The period of payment is limited to 15 years. The amount of payment amounts to the following tariffs:

The law does not provide for any adaptation mechanism, but the tariffs may be adjusted by a decree of the Ministry of Economy every three years. Costs are borne by the energy consumer through the elctricity price.

In addition, electricity generators from renewable energy sources whose production does not exceed 20 kW can make use of net-metering.

EC review and assessment

Read a summary of the European Commission’s 2005 review of Italy’s renewable electricity policies and of its 2007 assessment of Italy’s progress in meeting the target set out in Directive 2001/77/EC.

Legal analysis

There currently is no legal analysis of this law.  If you are a lawyer from Italy, and interested in submitting an analysis, or providing more up-to-date information about the current status of the renewable energy policy, we would be happy to hear form you.

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