Italy's New Industrial Revolution

There are moments when transitions stop being linear and become accelerations. 2024 was one of these for Zelestra in Italy: the start of a new trajectory, more ambitious and integrated.

In seven years Zelestra has built the foundations of its presence in Italy. But it is in the last year that we accelerated: pipeline tripled in less than twelve months, reaching about 1.4 GW between photovoltaics – with a strong agrivoltaic component – and storage systems, including the largest authorized standalone greenfield BESS initiative in the country.

It is not just growth, but a paradigm shift. The integration between generation and storage represents the real new course: a modern energy system must be flexible, intelligent, and capable of responding to the needs of the grid and the economy.

This vision has quickly translated into the capitalization of the existing pipeline through participation in market mechanisms: about 60 MW in the transitional FER X, up to 100 MW in FER X NZIA; in the ability to create alliances also to originate new capacity and provide 1.5 TWh through Energy Release 2.0; and a presence destined to grow in the capacity market.

^{Director of Institutional Affairs and Public Policies in Italy, Giorgia Epicoco}

In this context, the role of IPPs (Independent Power Producers) is fundamental: a pragmatic approach, capable of quickly understanding real needs and unlocking dynamic investments, contributing to reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and therefore on external shocks. The new routes are also commercial.

Zelestra was the first company in Italy to sign a virtual financial tolling agreement with BKW, demonstrating that innovating business models is decisive to ensure stability and bankability for projects. The energy sector, highly regulated, must be protected from short-term logics and recognized as a strategic asset.

The energy revolution is the industrial revolution of our time: it requires vision on sources, technologies, and market models. Without this perspective, we risk losing competitiveness in Europe and globally. But the new routes do not build themselves. We have contributed to strengthening associative dialogue and positioning the IPP model as a lever for the development of renewables. In this context, we support simplification and clear priorities.

Authorization simplification, regulatory stability, enhancement of PPAs, and protection of technological neutrality in capacity markets. Essential conditions to attract investments and strengthen the industrial system. The transition also has a social impact. We want to strengthen our role in the territories and promote growth tools towards decarbonization: in Sicily we have launched the first Zelestra EmPowers initiative for road safety; with Zelestra FutureS and the Sodalitas Foundation we work to promote STEM skills in the energy field.

Looking to the future, we aim to double the pipeline by 2026, grow by 70% as an organization, and strengthen our presence in the territory. We do this because we believe in the Italian market, in the country's strategic position, and in the need to build a decarbonized, resilient, and stable electricity system. The technologies are mature, the capital is available. Clear routes and courageous choices are needed. And Zelestra wants to help shape them.

Read the full publication here: WEC ITALIA Dialogues