Italy Accelerates Solar Energy and Industrial Energy Storage Deployment Amid Renewed EU Commitments

Rome, April 2025 – In a bold move to meet its EU-mandated greenhouse gas emissions targets, Italy is accelerating its renewable energy strategy under the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC Italy). The government has set ambitious goals for increasing renewable energy on the national grid, with a particular focus on bolstering both solar energy and energy storage solutions tailored for industrial and commercial sectors.

Over the past year, installations of new renewable energy plants in Italy have surged—especially within the photovoltaic sector—boosting installed capacity from approximately 3 GW in 2022 to nearly 6 GW in 2023. This rapid expansion in Italy's solar is fueling the country’s drive to have renewables contribute to 65% of electricity consumption by 2030.

As the penetration of solar power increases, grid stability has become a critical issue. In response, Italy is prioritizing the development of grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS Italy) alongside new industrial and commercial energy storage projects. These measures are essential not only for integrating intermittent renewable sources into the grid but also for mitigating transmission congestion, which is particularly pronounced given that most renewable generation occurs in southern Italy while consumer demand is concentrated in the north.

PNIEC Italy envisions a robust energy storage landscape by 2030, targeting a total installation of 22.5 GW. This portfolio includes 8 GW of pumped hydro systems (largely already in place), 4 GW of distributed storage systems connected to residential solar projects, and a significant 11 GW commitment for new utility-scale facilities. Accordingly, there is a growing market for industrial energy storage and commercial energy storage projects, positioning Italy as a leader in advanced Italy storage solutions and renewable energy Italy initiatives.

In support of these ambitious objectives, the Italian government recently received approval from the EU Commission for investment schemes aimed at developing at least 70 GWh of utility-scale storage—an initiative projected to attract over €17 billion in investments over the next decade. Terna, the nation's transmission system operator, is set to release a new tender in 2024, inviting proposals that include both lithium-ion and pumped hydro storage technologies.

A key facilitator in navigating this evolving market is GSL Energy, a company that has established itself as a trusted partner for both international and domestic stakeholders. GSL Energy offers expert advisory services to companies interested in capitalizing on Italy’s expanding opportunities in industrial and commercial energy storage. With a deep understanding of market dynamics and regulatory frameworks, GSL Energy is actively assisting enterprises—especially from the U.S.—in securing representation and leveraging USG Advocacy through the U.S. Commercial Service to participate in upcoming tenders. Their expertise positions clients to effectively engage with Italy’s growing sector and achieve success under PNIEC Italy.

Industry experts agree that these initiatives not only enhance grid reliability and system flexibility but also provide promising market prospects for companies specializing in advanced energy storage solutions. As the country continues to innovate, the combined impact of expanding solar capacity and cutting-edge storage deployment is expected to drive economic growth and set a benchmark for sustainable energy transformation across Europe.