In force since January 24, 2024, the Ministerial Decree that approved the allocation of €5.7 billion for the establishment of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) and Collective Self-Consumption Groups (CSCs).
The tools identified by the decree to promote RECs and self-consumption are mainly two:
- Incentive tariff on renewable energy produced and shared, financed through charges on electricity bills, in addition to the ARERA valuation component.
- Non-repayable contribution up to 40% of eligible costs aimed at communities with plants built in municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants.
REC Incentive Tariff: What It Is and What the Values Are
The incentive tariff consists of a fixed part and a variable part. It is granted by the GSE for a period of 20 years starting from the date each REC plant begins operation.
The value of the tariff changes depending on the plant and the market price of energy: the greater the installed power, the lower the fixed part (and vice versa); the higher the market price of electricity, the lower the variable part (and vice versa).
These increases and decreases follow a precise scheme shown below.
Obviously, all RES (Renewable Energy Sources) plants can participate in the incentive, including wind, hydroelectric, biogas, or solid biomass plants. However, only photovoltaic systems are eligible for a bonus.
In fact, the REC Decree provides for a premium of €4/MWh produced from photovoltaic systems in Central Italy and €10/MWh for those in Northern Italy.
As already mentioned, the incentive tariff must be added to the ARERA valuation component for self-consumed energy. This component is assigned by the GSE and varies each year depending on the tariffs set by the competent authority.
REC Incentive Tariff: Validity Period and How to Access It
Like all incentives, the one concerning RECs will not be available forever. The new regime for Renewable Energy Communities is set to end on December 31, 2027, although it may close earlier if the incentive power capacity quota of 5 GW is reached.
The application for access to incentives must be submitted using the GSE’s information portal, and the request must be accompanied by all the documentation required to verify eligibility.
RinnovabiliContact Pro CER: The Platform for the Animation and Accounting Management of Renewable Energy Communities
If you are considering establishing a REC, or have already started one, it is essential to use a platform that allows you to manage its real-time monitoring, accounting, and animation.
Contact Pro CER is a platform for the complete creation and management of RECs that combines Artificial Intelligence, a mobile app, and a web platform, to engage both consumers and prosumers.
It is the ideal solution provided to Public Administrations, SMEs, and citizens who want to establish a Renewable Energy Community in a virtuous and efficient way.
But what are the most important features?
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Multi-REC management
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Multi-user management
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Real-time management of energy flows produced, self-consumed, and fed into the grid
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REC accounting management
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Environmental impact management (CO₂ calculation)
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Data export in CSV, XLSX formats
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User access for superadmin, admin, and participant roles
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Monitoring of photovoltaic system performance
If you are thinking of establishing a REC and would like more information about our Contact Pro CER solution, download the brochure and register for our free webinars, where we will demonstrate how the platform works.