Italy's First Battery Storage Auction a Success, Enel Wins Half
Italy's first battery storage auction has been a resounding success, with all 10 gigawatt hours of the tendered capacity awarded. Enel, the largest Italian utility, secured half of the awarded capacity with five projects. Notably, Plenitude, Eni's retail and renewable unit, won two projects totalling 500 megawatt hours.
The average price in the auction was a significant 13,000 euros per megawatt hour per year, well below the regulator's cap. This indicates a strong interest and competitive landscape in Italy's push for renewable energy integration. The awarded capacity, based on lithium-ion technology, represents an investment of around 1 billion euros.
The awarded storage capacity is set to come online by 2028, further bolstering Italy's grid stability. Following this auction, further ones for battery storage, including a dedicated one for hydroelectric storage infrastructure, are planned. This demonstrates Italy's commitment to expanding its renewable energy infrastructure.
The successful auction, with all capacity awarded, signals a positive outlook for Italy's renewable energy sector. Enel's significant involvement, along with other companies like BKW with Zelestra, indicates a robust market. The awarded projects, set to come online by 2028, will contribute to Italy's grid stability and renewable energy integration.
