Italy implements new system to manage electrical grid capacity

Italy's Minister of Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, has signed a decree introducing a new system to manage the national electrical grid's capacity. The measure aims to combat “virtual saturation,” a phenomenon where a high volume of connection requests for renewable energy projects occupies grid capacity even if the projects never reach the authorization or construction phases.

Under the new regulations, Terna is required to publish and update the maximum available capacity for new connections every three months across different areas of the national transmission grid. This system will prioritize projects that are concretely ready for construction, freeing up space previously occupied by non-viable requests. The decree applies to renewable energy sources and storage systems but excludes offshore plants.

The reform is intended to increase transparency and certainty for energy investors by using objective, non-discriminatory, and periodically updated public criteria. It implements provisions from the “Bollette decree” (n. 21/2026) to simplify the authorization process and strengthen the energy sector.