Italy’s Ministry of Environment and Energy Security has announced it received nearly 1,500 expressions of interest (EoIs) under the country’s FERX decree, a new mechanism to support renewable energy projects utilizing energy sources such as solar and wind.

The decree was launched in February this year.

The Ministry said that solar energy, with approximately 1,400 EoIs for a total capacity of roughly 17.6 GW, drove the participation. This capacity is over twice the expected 8 GW capacity.

Wind power projects received 90 EoIs for an approximate total capacity of 2.9 GW, aligning with the available quota of 2.5 GW.

After the publication of the results of the expressions of interest and calls for tenders by the Energy Services Manager, from July 14 to September 12 this year, applications can be submitted for the first tenders. These tenders will allocate 8 GW of power for solar and 2.5 GW for wind projects. Prequalified project developers can submit final bids after the call for tenders.

Gilberto Pichetto, Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, said the FERX decree is a useful tool for supporting Italy’s decarbonization efforts and ensuring that the increase in renewable sources contributes to a progressive reduction in energy prices.

Replying to a question posed in parliament earlier this month, Pichetto stated that FERX and its support mechanisms will include revisions to how two-way contracts operate, aiming for more efficient integration of renewable energy sources with the country’s grid and electricity system.

He also announced that the first auction under Italy’s Forward Storage Market initiative for battery storage projects will be held in September 2026. This auction will include allocating 10 GWh of lithium-ion technology for development by 2028.

In April this year, Italy’s energy management agency, Gestore dei Servizi Energetici (GSE), invited bids for the second round of cumulative 1.04 GW agrivoltaic power projects. The projects are expected to generate electricity of up to 1,300 GWh per year. They can receive incentives of up to €323.41 million (~$356.07 million).

In December 2024, GSE allocated 1.5 GW of capacity for agrivoltaic projects in the country’s first dedicated auction. The auction generated significant interest, with 540 projects approved from a pool of 643 bids, totaling over 1.7 GW of capacity submitted.