The process, carried out between February 26 and 27, 2025, reflects the evolution of the electricity market in Italy, with a growing prominence of storage technologies. According to official results, 95% of the newly awarded capacity corresponds to electrochemical storage systems, confirming the key role of these solutions in grid stability.

It is worth noting that in the auction for the 2026 delivery period, 38,405 MW of capacity were awarded, of which 38,265 MW corresponded to existing capacity and 140 MW to newly authorized capacity. The national market awarded 38 GW at a price of €46,000/MW/year, while the new capacity was awarded at €56,160/MW/year.

Distribution of Awarded Capacity for the 2027 Period

The total of 38,641 MW is distributed among existing capacity, new additions in Italy, and cross-border capacity:

• Awarded existing capacity: 38,047 MW
• Authorized new capacity: 594 MW
• Awarded cross-border capacity: 4,365 MW

At the national level, Northern Italy led the awards with 22,063 MW in already operational facilities, followed by the Central-South region with 5,472 MW. The additional capacity approved for new installations was relatively low, with only 594 MW, most of which was concentrated in the North (458 MW).

At the international level, the 4,365 MW of cross-border capacity were awarded at a significantly lower price than the national market. The Northern Italy area secured 4,200 MW with a valuation price of €7,199/MW/year, while in the South and Central-South, 165 MW were accepted at prices of €6,500/MW/year and €5,579/MW/year, respectively.

Price Analysis: A Historic Low

One of the most notable aspects of the auction is the reduction in the valuation price. While in previous years the awards hovered at higher values, this edition closed at €47,000/MW/year for the national market, marking the lowest price ever recorded in Italy.

This decline is due to several factors:

1. Increased competition among participants, reducing the price required to secure capacity.
2. Massive penetration of electrochemical storage, providing flexibility without the high costs of new thermal power plants.
3. Greater integration of renewable sources, reducing the need to secure additional capacity with more expensive infrastructure.

The Role of Storage in the Auction

One of the most striking aspects of the 2027 award is the dominance of electrochemical storage systems in new capacity. Of the 594 MW authorized, 95% corresponds to storage, confirming the trend towards a more flexible grid less dependent on fossil generation.

With this award, Italy aligns with European trends in the energy transition, betting on storage systems as a key tool to manage the variability of renewable energies.