Rome, Renewable Energy Communities are growing
Solar energy continues to grow in the capital, as does the municipality’s commitment to developing Renewable Energy Communities. Following the approval of regulations allowing the roofs of schools and public buildings to be used for solidarity-based REC projects, approximately €800,000 will be allocated to launch at least 20 solar energy projects with shared energy. These resources have been made available by the Ministry of the Environment for climate change mitigation projects following the European Commission’s approval of the Climate City Contract last October. The announcement was made during the second Renewable Energy Communities Conference held at the Campidoglio.
In the presence of Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, Councillor for Public Works Ornella Segnalini and President of the Environment Commission Giammarco Palmieri, the meeting took stock of the spread of solar energy, the status of projects already underway or awaiting approval, the results achieved and the future challenges of sharing energy from renewable sources. These are ambitious goals to improve quality of life, which Roma Capitale is pursuing through fruitful dialogue and constructive collaboration with important entities involved in the sector: Areti, Gestore Servizio Energetici, Banco dell’Energia, Banca Etica, Sapienza University of Rome, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma Tre University, and Coordinamento Cers Roma, which involves dozens of associations and social organisations.
In the capital, the spread of solar installations is constantly growing: in 2025, 4,499 photovoltaic solar systems were connected to the grid for 44 MW of power, reaching a total installed capacity of 398 MW, distributed among over 34,000 systems, according to ARETI data. This is an important step forward in terms of the environment but also in terms of savings on bills for businesses and households.
“The data on solar growth is encouraging and tells us that the city has fully understood the opportunities linked to the green economy. The work we are doing with many social organisations in Rome on CERs shows that it is possible to pursue an ambitious climate transition and create benefits for everyone, especially those who struggle to pay for electricity and gas, for the growing segment of the population in Italy living in energy poverty. Our commitment to supporting CERs continues, and following the approval of Italy’s first regulation for solidarity projects, we will finance the creation of at least 20 projects through a call for tenders. In the coming days, the Council will approve the Technical and Economic Feasibility Plan for the tender for the construction of solar power systems on 15 schools in Rome to serve CERs.” – explained Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome.
During the conference, projects launched in Municipalities I, IV, VII and XI were presented. These projects were promoted by third sector associations using the procedure set out in the Regulations ‘for the provision of areas and photovoltaic solar systems for renewable and solidarity-based energy communities’ to install solar systems on the roofs of schools and buildings in Rome. In addition, the projects of the CERs already active with solar power systems installed at the Vaccari Institute, at Borgo Ragazzi Don Bosco on the Prenestina, the Municipality VIII school project with five solar power systems installed, the systems installed by the Convent of the Poor Clares in Monteverde and on the Marevivo barge on the Tiber were discussed, while new projects on solar power systems serving CERs involve Sapienza University, Tor Vergata, Roma Tre and citizens’ associations in Pigneto, Casal Brunori, San Pietro and Quarticciolo.
Today, Rome represents a laboratory for the dissemination of CERs, unique in Italy, with ongoing, strong collaboration with local associations and organisations, which has enabled us to tackle various challenges in recent months launch an innovative energy sharing model: simplified models for accessing the CER Regulation procedure, support for accessing credit, the romaperilclima.it website with all the information on CERs, the mobile information desk with a camper van which, from September to February, visited all the municipalities to inform citizens about the savings opportunities offered by CERs.
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