Implementation of the European Renewable Energy Directive

The decree transposing EU Directive 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources was published on November 30, 2021 in the italian Gazzetta Ufficiale.

The decree contains the guidelines dictated by the European Union and adapted to the Italian energy landscape: on this basis, the implementing decrees will be issued by the competent bodies (see article: How has the directive of the internal electricity market been implemented? | Regalgrid).

The decree provides a greater clarification on the subject of renewable energy by providing some definitions and related innovations, including those of:

• Energy communities (article: Energy community: if not now, when? | Regalgrid)
• Active customer and related rights and charges
• Aggregation and related rights and charges
• Energy storage and related conditions

In addition, certain necessary conditions were introduced and clarified regarding:

• The adjustment to the energy price
• The responsibility of distribution network operators for distributed generation integration requirements
• The holding of charging points for electric mobility

With regard to Renewable Energy Communities, in addition to providing a specific definition, the decree has introduced some important innovations:

• The extension of the power of the plant granted up to 1MW;
• The extension of the geographical limits, taking as reference the primary cabin instead of the secondary one
• The addition of a greater number of types of subjects who are authorized to take part in renewable energy communities
• The addition of additional services (in addition to collective self-consumption) that a community can provide