Legal sources on renewable energy

Italy: Overview of legal framework

Overview of promotion system

In Italy, electricity generated from renewable energy sources is mainly promoted through a quota system (certificati verdi). The quota system obliges all producers and importers of electricity to generate a certain quota of electricity from renewable sources or purchase a certain amount of green certificates. As an alternative, small systems and expensive technologies like photovoltaic generation can make use of various kinds of price regulation, which might be more cost-efficient than participation in the certificate system. The price regulation system provides for mechanisms like the feed-in tariff for systems generating less than 1 MW.  Likewise, photovoltaic systems are promoted by "conto energia per il solare fotovoltaico“. Electricity may also be sold on the free market or within the regulatory system of “ritiro dedicato” (purchase by Gestore dei Servizi Elettrici at a guaranteed price). Under certain conditions, electricity producers can make use of "scambio sul posto" (net-metering).

Overview of access to the grid

In Italy, grid operators are obliged to give priority access to renewable energy systems in the operation of their grids. They are also obliged to give priority dispatch to electricity from renewable sources. System operators may request their grid operator to expand the grid if the connection of a system requires this expansion.