The “Regulations for the Provision of Solar Photovoltaic Areas and Installations of Roma Capitale in Favor of Solidarity Renewable Energy Communities,” the first approved by an Italian municipality, was presented at the Campidoglio, and the social objectives and economic feasibility challenges of various projects that Roma Capitale is pursuing with all entities committed to the dissemination of the new models of sharing energy from renewable sources made possible by European Directives, were explored in depth.
In fact, thanks to the Regulations, it is possible both to establish CERs on systems installed on Roma Capitale buildings undergoing redevelopment, through PNRR and CIS resources, and to use the roofs of schools and buildings of the Municipality to set up solar systems to serve energy communities promoted by Third Sector entities.
The first energy community is already active in Rome, an exemplary project of how environmental and social goals can travel well together. In fact, on the roof of the Leonarda Vaccari Institute, an 82 kW photovoltaic system has been installed that produces electricity for a facility that cares for people with physical and mental disabilities and children with autism, allowing important savings on the institute’s bills, to which are added the energy community’s incentives on the energy fed into the grid and shared with other associations and social realities in the Prati neighborhood. The project was implemented on a Roma Capitale building, concessioned and financed by the Banco dell’Energia Foundation, a philanthropic organization whose mission is to provide support to people in economic and social hardship through projects aimed at combating energy poverty.
There are several ERC projects presented and ready to start, for example in Casal de Pazzi, Don Bosco, Quarticciolo, Corviale, Esquilino, Centocelle, Garbatella, Monteverde. The Administration’s goal is to give support to all initiatives that aim to help families in energy poverty, the recovery of public spaces by planting new trees and other social projects, working with the Municipalities, the network of solidarity energy communities in Rome and the Third Sector Forum.
“Today we are presenting the first results of a unique work in Italy, because we want to make Rome a laboratory of innovation that holds together both environmental and social challenges. Energy communities can be an important tool to respond to one of the most delicate challenges of the energy transition; that of truly being an opportunity for all and for all. With the regulation on ERCs, the first to be approved by an Italian municipality, Rome is creating the conditions to launch projects in all neighborhoods ” explained Mayor Gualtieri.
In the capital, the spread of solar installations is growing, in 2024, according to data from Areti, there were 6219 photovoltaic systems installed for a total of 46 Mw. With these installations, the total installed PV in Rome is 29610 systems for more than 354 MW. It is worth noting the growth in the last two years, which confirms a trend toward the spread of installations of different sizes with an average size in 2024 of 7.3 kW and in 2023 of 10.5 kW. This is a positive figure for climatic reasons but also for economic reasons, because today photovoltaics are the most efficient and structural solution to reduce utility bills. But the City’s goal is also to make these opportunities accessible to those who are struggling today, for those struggling to pay for electricity and gas, for that growing segment of the population in energy poverty.
