\n \t\tpv magazine has spoken with Federico Brucciani, secretary of Italian PV association Italia Solare, about the rapid expansion of residential solar-plus-storage in Italy, where 80% of new PV systems now include batteries. He also discussed the structural weaknesses of the C&I segment and the slow regulatory rollout of flexibility markets despite the country\u2019s rapidly growing distributed storage base. <\/p>\n
During a chat with pv magazine<\/strong> on the sidelines of the Smarter E trade show in Munich, Germany, Federico Brucciani, secretary of Italia Solare, offered a broad assessment of the state of photovoltaics and energy storage in Italy, touching on market dynamics across the residential, commercial & industrial (C&I), and utility-scale segments.<\/p>\n Brucciani described the storage sector in particular as being in a strong growth phase, while stressing that the expansion is far from uniform. In particular, he drew a clear distinction between residential and other segments, noting that \u201cthe storage market in Italy is booming,\u201d but adding that \u201cyou have to distinguish the residential segment, which is driven by the the eco-bonus \u2013 which is an income tax (IRPEF) rebate.\u201d<\/p>\n According to his account, recent incentive schemes, including regional rebate schemes, have fundamentally reshaped the residential market, not only stimulating demand but also changing the very nature of system design. As he put it, \u201cwith the Superbonus, residential installations have become PV-plus-storage systems,\u201d reflecting a structural shift in how households approach self-consumption.<\/p>\n This evolution has led to a highly mature residential storage segment. \u201cBrucciani pointed out that \u201c\u201dIn 2025, 80% of new residential PV systems were installed with storage,\u201d Brucciani stated. This highlights a profound market transformation.<\/p>\n As a result, Italy has already built a significant distributed storage base, estimated at around 18 GW of installed capacity. This, he suggested, is beginning to represent a relevant system-level asset.<\/p>\n The picture changes markedly when moving to the commercial and industrial segment. Here, Brucciani was notably critical, arguing that \u201cC&I in Italy does not yet have a real storage market.\u201d One of the main constraints, he explained, is the lack of in-house energy expertise within companies. \u201cMost of business owners don\u2019t have anyone following the energy side,\u201d he said, referring especially to SMEs.<\/p>\n This is compounded, in his view, by a fragmented and unstable support framework. He noted that \u201cthe C&I segment is subject to regional tenders, so it goes through constant stop-and-go cycles,\u201d making long-term investment planning difficult.<\/p>\n As a result, storage deployment in the segment remains minimal. \u201cIn C&I, we are basically still without batteries,\u201d he said bluntly, adding that most installations remain PV-only systems.<\/p>\n Even in volume terms, the segment remains limited relative to its potential. While acknowledging ongoing activity, Brucciani stressed its inconsistency, noting that \u201conly 1 GW of PV per year is being installed, but with continuous stop-and-go dynamics.\u201d<\/p>\n Turning to utility-scale storage, Brucciani outlined a significantly more optimistic trajectory. \u201cBy 2030, we will be close to 50 GWh of standalone storage,\u201d he said, referring to large-scale batteries not necessarily co-located with renewable generation, but primarily used for grid services and system balancing.<\/p>\n In this context, he highlighted the central role of Terna, the country\u2019s grid operator, which effectively controls the deployment of large-scale storage assets. \u201cThe large batteries are managed by Terna,\u201d he said, noting that this regulatory choice has created a more orderly but also more rigid market structure.<\/p>\n Another key constraint is the cautious stance of the financial sector. According to Brucciani, banks are open to storage projects, but only if the revenue stream presents a safe mix of regulated price plus merchant, indicating a preference for more conservative and standardized risk structures.<\/p>\n A central theme of the discussion was the untapped potential of grid flexibility. Brucciani emphasized that distributed storage could play a transformative role in system operation, describing the situation as \u201cquite extraordinary\u201d in terms of its potential impact on distribution networks.<\/p>\n However, he argued that the main barrier is regulatory rather than technological. \u201cFlexibility has been introduced through pilot projects,\u201d he said, but added that \u201cwe are still stuck at the pilot stage,\u201d underscoring the lack of a fully operational market framework.<\/p>\n This situation also concerns distribution system operators such as e-distribuzione, which have implemented several pilot initiatives but have not yet transitioned to a fully commercial flexibility market.<\/p>\n More broadly, Brucciani offered a somewhat counterintuitive assessment of the Italian regulatory environment, stating that \u201cthe Italian regulatory framework is one of the most stable and clearly defined,\u201d especially when compared with other European markets, which are often perceived as simpler but not necessarily more effective.<\/p>\n In closing, he shifted to policy instruments, stressing that he is reluctant to frame current measures as traditional incentives. \u201cI don\u2019t like talking about incentives,\u201d he said, suggesting instead the need for structural support mechanisms such as guarantee schemes.<\/p>\n In particular, he argued that \u201cfor both residential and C&I, this would be a huge lever,\u201d as such mechanisms could reduce uncertainty associated with annual tax deduction schemes, which currently remain the primary market driver.<\/p>\n He concluded by acknowledging that, at present, \u201ctax deductions are the main driver,\u201d while implying that the next phase of market development will require more stable, long-term instruments to ensure predictable growth of the sector.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n