Pnrr Mission 2: Green Revolution and Ecological Transition

Italia Oggi Sette dedicates an in-depth study to the impact of the NRP on the renewal of the energy sector in Italy. The article highlights how “Mission 2: Green Revolution and Ecological Transition“, together with the worsening energy supply needs, accentuated the need to streamline the administrative procedures for the concrete implementation of projects eligible for funding. Although the plan provides regulatory and economic support for investments, boosting innovation in the Renewable Energy Sources sector, problems persist caused to the timing of bureaucracy, which can cause delays of up to years in the implementation of projects. That has led to the conditions underlying the multiplication of requests for legal assistance in this sector.

Despite the innovations introduced by Mission 2 of the NRP, the main problem is caused by the lack of coordination between the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (Mase) with the regional offices. These are not adequately organized to effectively manage the high volume of projects requiring approval. As a result, difficulties inevitably arise from the confrontation between the dynamism of entrepreneurs and the rigidity of project evaluation procedures by central and peripheral administrations, which rarely respect the timeframes for issuing authorizations. Only a further streamlining of authorization processes can enable the PA to adequately support the growth of the renewables market.

Pnrr expands support to renewable energy communities (RECs)

The Pnrr has also brought new impulse to Renewable Energy Communities (RECs). These are shared facilities created for the production and self-consumption of energy from renewable sources, through smart grids, available to citizens and local authorities that have chosen to join forces. Support for their creation now covers installations up to 1,000 kW (limit previously set at 200kW), but Mase has not yet issued a regulation dedicated to the new scope. These communities are important to strengthen the Italian electricity grid and to reduce energy poverty by making consumers active players in sustainable production and consumption.

Federica Reale, senior advisor Andersen, an expert in civil and administrative law and assistance in procurement for public administrations, contributed to this article by commenting on the opportunity represented by the evolution towards an increasingly autonomous and environmentally friendly system. Mission 2 of the Pnrr has the opportunity to accelerate the growth of the sector thanks to ‘the extensive system of subsidies provided for companies that decide to invest in energy efficiency. Since 2021, there has been a gradual upturn in investments driven by the awareness of investing in renewable energy as a guarantee for a necessary energy future. Setting up new Renewable Energy Communities and Energy Performance Contracts ‘Epc’, through the activation of appropriate tendering procedures are just some examples of how we can actively intervene.”