For example, solar panels generate most of their electricity during the middle of the day, while a company’s energy consumption may be concentrated at different times. It is therefore necessary to find systems capable of storing energy when it is available and making it usable when needed.

In this context, BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems), which store electrical energy in batteries, are becoming increasingly important. These solutions can help manage renewable energy generation more effectively, optimise energy consumption and increase the flexibility of energy systems.

What is a BESS and how does it work?

A BESS is an integrated system that enables electrical energy to be stored and released at a later time, according to the needs of the facility or the power grid.

The energy can come from the electricity grid or from a generation system, such as a solar photovoltaic installation. During charging, the energy is converted and stored in the batteries. When it is needed, the system makes it available again in the form of electrical energy.

A BESS is therefore more than just a battery pack. It consists of several components that work together to manage energy storage, power conversion and the safety of the entire system.

The main components include:

• Battery System: comprises the cells, modules and racks that make up the energy storage system;
• Battery Management System (BMS): monitors parameters such as state of charge, temperature, voltage and current, helping keep the batteries within safe operating limits;
• Power Conversion System (PCS): converts energy between direct current (DC), used by the batteries, and alternating current (AC), used by the grid and electrical installations;
• Energy Management System (EMS): coordinates system operation and determines when to charge or discharge the batteries based on the available data;
• Auxiliary systems: include, among other components, cooling, air conditioning and fire protection systems, which are essential for the proper operation of the installation.

Together, these components enable a BESS to become an integral part of the energy infrastructure rather than being viewed simply as an energy storage system.

Where are BESS Used?

Energy storage systems can be used in a variety of settings, ranging from large-scale energy infrastructure to industrial facilities.

In utility-scale applications, BESS are connected to the power grid and can help balance electricity supply and demand, manage energy generated from renewable sources and provide flexibility services to the grid.

A second key application area is Commercial & Industrial (C&I), where the system is installed to serve a business or industrial facility. In this case, energy storage can be integrated with solar photovoltaic installations and other on-site energy generation or consumption systems.

BESS are also used in microgrids and Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), where energy storage can help better align electricity generation with consumption and increase the share of available energy that is used locally.

What benefits can a BESS offer businesses?

For a business, the value of an energy storage system goes beyond simply storing electricity. A BESS can become a valuable tool for managing energy consumption and generation more flexibly.

Peak Shaving

One of the most common applications is peak shaving, which involves reducing peak power demand from the grid.

When electricity demand is high, a BESS can supply part of the required energy, reducing the amount of power drawn from the grid at that particular time. The feasibility of achieving this result and the associated financial benefits depend on the company’s consumption profile, system configuration and electricity supply terms.

Maximising Self-Consumption

When a business has a solar photovoltaic installation, electricity generation does not always coincide with the time when energy is consumed.

Energy storage makes it possible to store some of the electricity generated but not immediately used, making it available later, for example during the evening or at other times of higher demand.

In this way, a BESS can help improve the alignment between energy generation and consumption while reducing reliance on electricity purchased from the grid.

Energy Cost Management

An energy storage system can also be used to manage electricity according to price fluctuations and consumption patterns.

When market conditions make it economically advantageous, the system can be programmed to store energy and use it at a later time. The actual benefits depend on price trends, system costs and how the BESS is operated.

Flexibility and Operational Continuity

A properly designed BESS can also help improve the resilience of a company’s electrical infrastructure. Depending on its configuration, it can respond to certain grid disturbances and, in systems designed for islanded operation, help maintain power supply to selected loads.

Here too, performance depends on the system’s technical specifications and the electrical architecture of the installation.

The role of EMS and Intelligent Energy Management

The value a BESS can deliver depends on more than just battery capacity. Intelligent energy management also plays a key role.

The Energy Management System (EMS) collects and analyses data relating to energy consumption, battery status and, where applicable, electricity market conditions.

This information can be used to schedule charging and discharging cycles in line with the installation’s objectives.

Advanced energy management can also integrate data from monitoring and control systems, as well as information on energy consumption. The aim is to make use of available storage capacity at the most advantageous time, avoiding unnecessary cycles and helping preserve battery performance over time.

Digitalisation therefore becomes an essential component of the system: batteries, power electronics and software must work together to maximise the value of the energy storage infrastructure.

BESS and the energy transition

The integration of renewable energy sources requires an enhanced capacity to manage production variability and align supply with consumption. In this context, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) serve as a key tool for increasing the flexibility of the electrical grid.

For businesses, energy storage should not be viewed as an isolated component, but rather as part of a broader strategy that encompasses renewable energy generation, consumption management, digitalization, and energy control.

The value of a BESS therefore depends on how it is sized and integrated into the energy system. There is no “one-size-fits-all” configuration; factors such as facility characteristics, consumption profiles, renewable generation, grid conditions, and operational strategies must all be taken into account to identify the most suitable solution.

From this perspective, Battery Energy Storage Systems represent an increasingly important technology for supporting the transition toward an energy system that is more flexible, efficient, and capable of integrating a growing share of energy from renewable sources.

BESS and asset management: the role of Raptech

When energy storage systems are added to solar photovoltaic installations, the amount of data that needs to be monitored quickly increases. Raptech is extending R-Cloud, its asset management platform, to BESS. The platform currently monitors more than 5 GW of renewable energy installations for some of Italy’s leading operators and international players.

Many of these operators are already adding batteries to their portfolios and want to monitor them alongside their existing installations, within the same environment and using the same reporting tools they rely on for investors and lenders.

Together with clients whose energy storage systems are already operational, we are defining the KPIs to be monitored. Operators managing mixed portfolios need to know whether their storage systems are performing in line with business plan expectations—and to identify deviations in time to take corrective action.

(picture from rinnovabili.it)

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With this clear warning, stripped of rhetorical flourishes, former Italian Prime Minister and former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi and Patrick Collison (co-founder and CEO of fintech giant Stripe) announced the launch of Rhine Group, a new European think tank and policy and industrial action lab.

Led operationally by Spanish economist Luis Garicano, and bringing together key figures from Europe’s industrial, technological and institutional landscape — including Xavier Niel, Bruno Le Maire and Louis Dreyfus — Rhine Group has a clear mission: to turn the findings of the landmark “Draghi Report on European Competitiveness” into concrete reforms, regulatory initiatives and actionable industrial policies.

Its goal is to close the growing productivity and innovation gap separating the European Union from the United States and China, while overcoming the bureaucratic inertia and fragmented decision-making that continue to hold Brussels back.

But if technology, capital and digitalisation are the tracks along which this recovery must run, the primary and indispensable fuel of European competitiveness remains one thing: energy.

The European paradox: high energy costs and structural dependence

The founding manifesto of the Rhine Group, together with Draghi’s analysis, points to a clear point of no return: a continent cannot compete in the economy of the future, from computational power for Artificial Intelligence and data centres to industrial electrification, if it faces structurally higher energy costs, two or three times those of the United States and China.

Europe is paying the price for decades of short-sighted decisions:

1. Exposure to geopolitical crises: dependence on fossil fuel imports — with foreign primary energy dependence exceeding 70% in many EU Member States, including Italy — has left the productive system exposed to the volatility of natural gas prices and conflicts along strategic trade routes.
2. The gap with the United States: in the US, access to low-cost domestic fossil energy sources, combined with a massive push for subsidies supporting green industries and manufacturing, has created a competitive advantage that is difficult to match.
3. China’s aggressive approach: Beijing controls dominant shares of the global clean technology supply chain — from photovoltaic panels and lithium cells to rare-earth processing putting Europe at risk of replacing its historic dependence on Russian gas with a new form of technological dependence on the East.

For the Rhine Group, protecting the European social model, welfare systems and public spending capacity ultimately depends on the ability to generate economic growth. And today, there can be no economic growth without energy security, independence and affordability.

Renewables and the green transition: not an ideological cost, but a pillar of energy security

One of the key merits of Mario Draghi’s argument is that it has stripped the green transition of its ideological overtones: renewables are not a moral obligation, but Europe’s most powerful geopolitical and national security asset.

The sun, wind and Europe’s territorial resources are the only primary energy sources the continent has in abundance without relying on hostile foreign suppliers or authoritarian regimes. Decarbonisation is therefore not simply about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but above all about:

• Decoupling electricity prices from the marginal cost of gas, thereby stabilising the cost of electricity for businesses and households over the long term;
• Halting the outflow of hundreds of billions of euros that leave the euro area every year to purchase hydrocarbons from abroad;
• Ensuring the operational continuity of Europe’s manufacturing base, shielding it from financial speculation and supply shocks.

However, as highlighted by the debate promoted by the think tank’s experts, the uncontrolled expansion of renewable generation capacity risks reaching an impasse unless it is accompanied by infrastructure investment and a fundamental shift in market rules.

The three industrial challenges: grids, energy storage and demand response

To ensure that clean energy translates into genuine competitiveness, the European plan must address three critical challenges:

1. Grid digitalisation and resilience: the electricity system is no longer hierarchical (from large-scale power plants to consumers), but polycentric and bidirectional. Millions of distributed generation assets require “smart” grids capable of preventing congestion and balancing generation at the local level.
2. Energy storage and intermittency: solar and wind generation create surpluses during periods of high production that risk going to waste without adequate battery energy storage systems (BESS) and pumped-storage facilities. Flexibility is key to bridging the gap between generation peaks and consumption patterns.
3. The evolution of demand (Demand Response): it is no longer enough for generation to adapt to consumption. Industrial loads, heat pumps, electric vehicle fleets and end consumers must also be able to modulate demand when renewable electricity is most abundant and affordable.

Raptech’s perspective: where energy governance meets data

The vision underpinning the Rhine Group, pragmatism, speed of decision-making, industrial scale and technological convergence, is closely aligned with the day-to-day work of those developing and deploying technologies for the energy transition.

Europe’s energy sovereignty will not be secured solely through treaties negotiated in Brussels or by allocating billions to cohesion funds. It will be won on construction sites, on industrial rooftops, in utility-scale renewable energy parks, and through the ability to manage the operational complexity of energy assets.

In this context, data is the primary enabler:

• Real-time and predictive monitoring: ensuring that every single kWh generated by solar and wind assets is tracked, optimised and integrated into the energy consumption of factories and local communities.
• Advanced asset management: minimising downtime, optimising performance and accelerating the operational response of technical teams, thereby reducing the OPEX of renewable energy investments.
• Integration of generation, storage and energy markets: providing software platforms capable of interfacing with open grid standards and supporting operators in managing flexibility and aggregating demand.

Mario Draghi’s call to “compete, build and return to growth” concerns the entire value chain: the green and energy transition will become a driver of European competitiveness only if it is supported by fit-for-purpose technological tools capable of turning installed capacity into genuine economic independence.

The challenge put forward by Mario Draghi through the Rhine Group makes one reality impossible to ignore: Europe’s industrial competitiveness and sovereignty depend fundamentally on its ability to guarantee energy security and independence. In an unstable geopolitical environment, renewable energy sources are not merely an environmental objective, but Europe’s strongest strategic safeguard against market volatility and dependence on fossil fuel imports. Solar and wind are valuable domestic resources, but their potential will remain only partially realised without the technological infrastructure needed to manage their flexibility, storage and integration into the grid.

For operators such as Raptech, this translates into a clear mission: turning the complexity of distributed generation into tangible value. Asset digitalisation, granular monitoring and intelligent data governance are indispensable tools for making solar and renewable energy assets resilient, efficient and genuinely bankable. Building a stronger, more autonomous Europe means, in practical terms, accelerating the deployment of modern, precisely monitored energy assets, where technology enables every single kilowatt-hour to become a building block of energy security and a driver of growth for businesses and communities.

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A high-profile event that marked a crucial turning point: the definitive transition of RECs from their “startup” phase towards a phase of structural consolidation. It is no longer enough to install solar panels simply to obtain a short-term economic benefit; what is needed is the creation of integrated ecosystems, territorial service platforms, and a digital and grid infrastructure capable of enabling genuine flexibility across the electricity system.

Against this backdrop of profound transformation, those working in the management, asset management and monitoring of renewable energy plants are facing an unprecedented industrial challenge and opportunity.

The “Network of Networks” and a new constitutional role for intermediary bodies

The proceedings were opened by CNEL President Renato Brunetta, alongside a video message from Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin and an address by ENEA President Francesca Mariotti.

Brunetta highlighted how energy communities represent the concrete implementation of Article 99 of the Italian Constitution: a natural arena for intermediary bodies — businesses, workers, third-sector organisations, land reclamation consortia and local authorities — to rebuild social cohesion and help manage the major demographic and energy transitions facing the country.

“Whoever has a network has a treasure. Today, whoever has a network of networks has a treasure raised to the power of ten.”

From a systemic perspective, as confirmed by Minister Pichetto Fratin, RECs represent a safeguard against depopulation in inland and mountainous areas, a tool for tackling energy poverty, and a key pillar for achieving the targets set out in the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC).

This commitment was formally reinforced during the event with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between CNEL and ENEA, which is intended to translate into concrete policy proposals and draft legislation aimed at simplifying and strengthening Renewable Energy Communities.

The current state of play: GSE figures, the NRRP and the funding challenge

The practical implementation of the initiative was discussed by Luca Barberis (Director of Renewable Energy Sources at GSE) and Stefania Crotta (Director General at MASE).

The figures point to an extraordinary level of activity:

• More than 48,000 NRRP applications submitted as of 30 November 2025;
• Over 4,500 configurations already qualified or operational, with the potential target effectively doubling compared with the 1.7 GW originally planned;
• A reallocation of funding to approximately €800 million, together with its transformation into a facility, which secured a crucial operational extension: 24 months from the award date and, in any case, until 31 December 2027 to complete the projects.

However, as Andrea Brugnach (Vice President of Italia Solare) pointed out, the figures for authorised generation capacity alone do not tell the whole story. As of today, operational configurations bring together approximately 37,000 actual members, representing just 0.1% of Italy’s electricity supply points (PODs), with an average of only 10 participants per community.

The real risk? Ending up with thousands of completed installations but “dwarf” configurations lacking a meaningful volume of electricity consumers. To prevent this from happening, GSE and MASE are working to shorten the time required to recognise and settle the incentive tariff, reducing the gap between advance payments and final adjustments in order to provide almost real-time feedback on consumption behaviour. They are also working to redirect any remaining funds towards covering applications currently left on the waiting list.

Regulation and the energy market: flexibility, demand response and on-bill cost separation

The shift from “passive producer” to active prosumer is bringing about profound changes in the management of both distribution and transmission networks.

Livio De Santoli, a Member of the ARERA Board, outlined the regulatory priorities for the next seven years, which he described as “the seven years of the energy revolution”:

1. Valuing shared energy and separating network charges on electricity bills: following the launch of proceedings in late June 2026, the Authority aims to remove network tariff components directly from electricity bills for energy that is simultaneously generated and consumed locally.
2. Managing intermittency and Demand Response: Italy continues to face high energy costs due to its dependence on gas. Decoupling electricity prices from gas requires greater demand-side flexibility, coordinated through energy storage systems and the ability to modulate consumption.
3. Grid connection infrastructure: with connection requests for ground-mounted renewable projects amounting to 10–15 times the PNIEC targets, MASE has already allocated €270 million to Distribution System Operators (DSOs) for new primary substations and switching stations, and €400 million to Terna (TSO) to make the grid smarter and more resilient.

The Roundtable: Finance, Bankability and the “Beyond the Incentive” Challenge

Moderated by Matteo Caldera (ENEA), the first roundtable focused on the key issue of the economic sustainability of RECs once the current incentive schemes come to an end.

• The banking sector (ABI, Banca Etica, Federcasse): Angelo Peppetti (ABI) and Paolo Vierucci (Banca Etica) highlighted the need for a dedicated section for RECs within the SME Central Guarantee Fund, with a revolving leverage mechanism, as well as the standardisation of business plan methodologies. With more than 150 RECs in its portfolio, Banca Etica has demonstrated how applying an Impact Appetite Framework (ESG) can reward investment quality. Gianni Parigi (Federcasse) referred to the Tuscan model of a regional credit cooperative, designed to protect the mutualistic value of the cooperative model while supporting local installers.
• Regional financial institutions and One-Stop Shops: Carmelo Campagna (ANFIR) emphasised that regional public financial institutions can represent the final link needed to build bankable value chains and aggregate projects, while Benedetta Brighenti (RENAEL) illustrated the decisive role of local energy agencies as One-Stop Shops — also envisaged under the EPBD — in supporting citizens and public authorities in the transition towards a Positive Energy District (PED).
• Consumers and the third sector: Tiziana Toto (Cittadinanza Attiva) and Alessandro Caffi (CEI) stressed that without trust, transparent statutes and clear, accessible language, citizens will never be willing to join.

From theory to the field: service platforms and enabling technology

The second roundtable, moderated by Paolo Zangheri (ENEA), brought together representatives from the cooperative sector (Maria Adele Prosperoni of Confcooperative and Giorgio Nanni of Legacoop, with the Respira project), industry associations and industrial operators.

Two technical contributions provided a clear picture of the role of digitalisation:

• Michele Vitiello (IFEC / WEC Italia): he focused on the energy trilemma — security, affordability and sustainability. As the energy system shifts from a hierarchical to a distributed model, RECs are becoming intelligent nodes, comparable in some respects to blockchain networks, that must safeguard cyber resilience while managing demand to prevent grid congestion.
• Violetta Scipinotti (E2.0) and Alfonso Bonafede (Federesco): they urged stakeholders not to treat RECs “like an endangered panda that needs to be protected with public money”, but rather as hybrid entities capable of doing business while redistributing social value. From local micro-welfare applications enabled by multichain tokens to leveraging the Conto Termico 3.0 scheme and EPC contracts, the REC evolves from a simple electricity configuration into a genuine multi-service platform.

As Sergio Olivero (Politecnico di Torino – Tenval Group, CNEL) aptly put it, RECs are, first and foremost, “data reservoirs.” The precise management of 15-minute readings, the calculation of simultaneity between generation and consumption, the monetisation of carbon credits, and interoperability between inverters, batteries and industrial loads represent the true economic frontier for these entities.

Raptech’s perspective: data as the cornerstone of distributed energy

The conclusions drawn by Paolo Pirani (CNEL Board Member) and Raffaele Morese (Associazione Nuovi Lavori) set a clear objective: Italy needs a national coordination task force and a stable regulatory framework to channel the energy of civil society and avoid trying to “drive a Formula 1 car with the handbrake on.”

For operators in the photovoltaic and renewable energy sectors, the message from the conference is crystal clear: the era of subsidised passive installations, regardless of how they are actually used, is over.

A REC can only thrive and generate returns for its members if it:

1. Monitors energy flows in real time at every point across the network to maximise the share of energy that is effectively shared;
2. Integrates and controls photovoltaic generation, energy storage systems, EV charging stations and the electrification of thermal loads;
3. Ensures data reliability and transparency to facilitate access to bank financing, reporting to GSE and the fair distribution of benefits among members.

In this new paradigm of shared energy, IT infrastructure, advanced monitoring and cloud-based energy management platforms are not an ancillary cost: they are the true engine that transforms bureaucratic complexity into economic, environmental and social value for local communities.

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According to SolarPower Europe’s EU Solar Market Outlook 2025–2030, the European market recorded its first annual contraction in the last ten years in 2025, with 65.1 GW installed—a 0.7% reduction compared to 2024. This isn’t a dramatic figure in itself. It’s a sign of something structural.

Too much sun at the wrong hours

The problem is not that too little solar capacity is being installed. The problem is that the solar already installed is becoming worth less and less during the hours when it produces the most.

The report documents a phenomenon that is rapidly intensifying: the so-called cannibalization effect. When abundant solar generation is concentrated in the middle hours of the day, while demand remains low, wholesale prices collapse — sometimes to zero or even into negative territory. The result is that the price captured by solar declines structurally compared to the average market price.

The data speaks clearly. Between January and September 2025, the average capture rate fell to 58% in Germany and 52% in Spain, compared to 67% and 63% the previous year. The sharpest decline occurred between April and May: in Germany, the capture rate dropped from over 50% in March to 33% in May; in Spain, from 49% to 18% over the same period. According to the EU Battery Storage Market Review 2025 report, the number of negative-price hours in Europe reached a new all-time high in 2025, accounting for 3.4% of total time — around 310 hours overall, nearly two consecutive weeks.

These are not abstract figures. For a utility-scale plant with a market-indexed PPA, a 52% capture rate means that the price actually earned is roughly half of the average hourly market price for the year. The gap between these two figures is the exact measure of how much value is being eroded every spring.

The market that expected not to have to deal with flexibility

For years, photovoltaics thrived in a system designed for programmable generation. Grids were sized for gas-fired power plants, not for dozens of GW generating simultaneously at midday. The result is that the more solar enters the system without the system adapting—storage, demand response, grid digitalization—the more the value of each new solar kWh compresses.

SolarPower Europe describes this dynamic as the key issue for the next five years. The median scenario of the outlook foresees further declines in 2026 and 2027, followed by a slow recovery that would bring annual installations back to around 67 GW by 2030. In the most likely scenario, Europe will miss the target of 750 GW cumulative by 2030, stopping at 718 GW—32 GW short of the target. Only the high scenario, which requires a decisive acceleration in storage and flexibility, is compatible with European targets.

Italy bucks the trend in auctions, but with the same structural constraints

n this context, Italy exhibits a unique dynamic. In 2025, it lost third place in the European rankings for annual installations, overtaken by France, with 5.2 GW installed compared to 6.7 GW in France. The decline is concentrated in the residential and commercial rooftop segment, penalized by the expiration of the Superbonus. The utility-scale segment, however, shows opposite signs: thanks to the FER X Transitorio mechanism, Italy awarded a record volume of 10.8 GW in auctions in 2025—the highest figure ever recorded in Europe in a single year by a single country, according to the Auctions and Corporate PPAs Market Review 2025 report—and aims to reach a cumulative 80 GW by 2030.

But auctions assign capacity, not put it on the grid. Structural bottlenecks—grid saturation, authorization times, local congestion—remain the factors that determine the gap between pipeline and actual installed capacity.

What changes for those who manage plants today

This scenario redefines the priorities of those who own or manage existing photovoltaic assets, not just those who develop new ones.

In an expansive market, the quality of management was a secondary factor: the plant produced, the price was high, the revenue arrived. In a market where the capture rate is structurally compressed, where the price varies hourly and area by area, where PPAs must be compared to actual market trends, the ability to precisely measure what is happening to the plant—and when—becomes a direct economic lever.

The SolarPower Europe report summarizes this in a passage worth keeping in mind: flexibility is not just a question of physical storage. It is the ability of the system—and those who manage it—to know exactly when and how much the asset is producing, and to compare it with the market context in which that production is valued.

European photovoltaics is not in crisis. It is growing in maturity. And maturity requires tools other than enthusiasm.

Sources: SolarPower Europe, EU Solar Market Outlook 2025–2030; EU Battery Storage Market Review 2025; Auctions and Corporate PPAs Market Review 2025.

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What is a SEU?

An Efficient User System (EUS) is an electricity generation and consumption system in which:

• there is a single producer (e.g., a photovoltaic system) and a single end customer (the connected user);
• production and consumption are physically connected by a private line, without passing through the public grid;
• the energy produced is used directly on-site, minimizing withdrawals from the national electricity grid.

In practice, it is a system that allows a company or individual to self-produce renewable energy (typically solar) and use it immediately, with the option of feeding the excess into the grid, benefiting from discounted rates and waiving certain grid charges.

How they work

• Local Production and Consumption

SEUs allow energy to be produced and consumed in the same location, a key principle for promoting energy sustainability. This approach reduces dependence on external energy sources and minimizes energy losses during transport, which are common in traditional systems.

From an economic perspective, self-consumption saves on energy costs, as locally produced energy can be used immediately, reducing bills. Furthermore, excess energy can be sold to the grid, generating additional revenue for users. SEUs, therefore, offer a more equitable and sustainable consumption model, transforming consumers into true prosumers.

• Direct Connection

In Efficient User Systems (SEUs), the direct connection between generation and users is a key element for optimizing energy use. This configuration allows producers to connect directly with consumers, eliminating intermediaries and reducing additional costs associated with using the traditional electricity grid. This way, the energy produced is delivered directly to the point of consumption, ensuring immediate and more efficient use of resources.

Direct connection is particularly advantageous for large companies, which can benefit from direct electricity sales. This not only saves money but also reduces the energy losses that typically occur when transporting electricity over long distances. Furthermore, direct connection facilitates energy self-sufficiency, as the energy is not classified as transmission or distribution, but as self-consumption.

• Management and Availability of the Area

To implement an Efficient User System, it is essential that the area where the system is installed (for example, the roof or the ground) is directly available to the end customer.

This means that the company must have full ownership or right to use the space: a requirement that guarantees transparency, proper operation, and continuity of the system over time.

In other words: the EUS is built and used directly within the end customer’s area, so that the energy produced is immediately available to power their businesses, without passing through the national electricity grid.

• EUS Qualification and Management

An Efficient User System isn’t created simply by installing a system: to be officially recognized, it must obtain a specific qualification from the GSE (Energy Services Manager).

This qualification certifies that the system meets all the characteristics required by law and allows access to the expected economic benefits.

Operational and regulatory management, however, is entrusted to the ARERA (Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment), which establishes the rules on tariffs, incentives, and relationships with the grid.

The main advantages of SEUs

Efficient User Systems (EUS) offer numerous tangible benefits for consumers and businesses.

• Reduced energy costs: Locally produced energy drastically reduces the amount drawn from the national electricity grid. This means less expenditure on the energy raw material, as well as lower costs for transportation, distribution, and other costs related to the electricity system (dispatching, network losses, and various charges). Furthermore, through self-consumption, the company uses the generated energy immediately, reducing bills and improving the return on the initial investment.
• Tariff and regulatory benefits: EUSs enjoy special rules regarding general system charges: part of the self-consumed energy not drawn from the public grid may be exempt from certain charges or tariff items. Favorable conditions for the recognition of EUS/SEESEU qualification allow access to benefits defined in the current regulatory system.
• Improved energy efficiency and sustainability: greater efficiency, as production occurs close to consumption, reducing losses, transmission times, and inefficiencies. Reduction of CO₂ emissions, because SEUs use renewable sources (or high-efficiency cogeneration), eliminating or limiting the use of fossil fuel energy.
• Enhancement of facilities and spaces: SEUs exploit unused corporate spaces (roofs, coverings, outdoor areas), transforming them into productive assets. Improved corporate image: sustainability, potential environmental certification, and appeal to customers who value social and environmental responsibility.
• Potentially rapid return on investment (ROI): Although the initial installation cost can be significant, the savings on utility bills, tariff and tax benefits, and the useful life of the systems allow for a return on investment in relatively short years, especially for companies with significant electricity consumption. With bank transfers, incentives, and favorable regulations, the investment becomes more sustainable and profitable.

Who are the SEUs aimed at?

Efficient User Systems are designed for businesses with significant energy consumption who want to reduce their bills while improving their sustainability.

Specifically, EUSs are an ideal solution for:

• Manufacturing and industrial companies
• With energy-intensive machinery and production processes, these businesses can achieve significant savings and greater cost stability.
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• From workshops and artisanal laboratories to warehouses and logistics centers: self-production helps businesses be more competitive in a market increasingly focused on costs and environmental impact.
• Shopping centers, hospitality facilities, and large-scale retail trade
• Businesses with large spaces (roofs, parking lots) and continuous electricity consumption (lighting, air conditioning, refrigeration) can turn energy expenditure into an investment.
• Public bodies and healthcare facilities
• Schools, hospitals, municipal buildings: EUSs reduce operating costs and free up resources for other essential services.
• Residential and Condominium Sector
• Private individuals and condominiums can also adopt SEU models to reduce energy costs and increase grid independence.

In short, SEUs are aimed at anyone who wants to save money, be more independent from the electricity market, and demonstrate a concrete commitment to environmental sustainability.

Want to make your business more efficient and sustainable? Discover how SEUs can transform your energy approach. Don’t let energy costs slow down your growth: rely on Raptech and build your customized energy future.

With Raptech, turn your energy into a competitive advantage: request a personalized study of your Efficient User System now.

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Giorgio, after a long experience in the renewable energy sector, you decided to start your own consulting firm. What was the spark that drove you to take this step?

After nearly ten years in the renewable energy sector, I have developed a deep understanding of the management and optimization of photovoltaic assets. The decision to found TAKUU CONSULTING stemmed from the desire to offer a highly specialized service, capable of responding to evolving market needs. Together with Alejandro Invernon Iglesias, co-founder of TAKUU, we recognized that the sector was reaching a stage of maturity, where professional management of existing and future assets is essential to ensuring performance and value over time. Our many years of experience allow us to offer innovative and customized solutions for every client.

What is the mission of your new company and which market players does it mainly address?

TAKUU CONSULTING’s mission is to maximize the value of our clients’ renewable assets, managing them with the same care, responsibility, and strategic vision we would dedicate to our own plants. We offer transparent and independent asset management services, integrating technical, financial, and operational expertise to optimize performance, costs, and processes throughout the plant’s lifecycle.

We primarily serve institutional investors, IPPs, and investment funds, supporting their internal asset management teams with flexible and scalable solutions, both during ordinary management phases and in the context of extraordinary transactions or portfolio consolidation. We also work alongside owner communities and local consortia, offering professional tools to enhance plant value, simplify governance, and improve long-term profitability.

Asset management in the photovoltaic sector is a strategic area, yet often undervalued. What does the added value of proper asset management actually translate into?

Professional photovoltaic asset management maximizes plant profitability by ensuring control over O&M operations, aligning revenues with actual production, and optimizing costs through supplier synergies. Furthermore, active management of PPAs and storage systems mitigates market risks and maximizes asset value even in complex scenarios. A strategic approach to asset management translates into greater efficiency, reliability, and economic sustainability of photovoltaic plants.

You have had direct experience in several European markets: what, in your opinion, are the main differences between Italy and Spain in terms of their approach to photovoltaics and the maturity of the operators?

Over the years, I have worked extensively in both markets, allowing me to observe firsthand how Italy and Spain have developed and consolidated their position in the photovoltaic sector. While both countries are clearly committed to the energy transition, their approaches are different, both regulatoryly and operationally.

In the case of Spain, growth has been very rapid in recent years. The expansion of installed capacity—over 35 GW through 2024—and the proliferation of PPAs with large companies like Amazon are evidence of this. This dynamic has been made possible by the presence of utilities with strong execution capacity. I have also seen how the abolition of the “sol tax” in 2018 represented a major turning point, and how many processes have since been streamlined. However, challenges remain: the regulatory framework is advancing, but there are significant delays in storage permits and grid adaptation, especially for large-scale projects. The recent Royal Decree 7/2025 seeks to correct this situation, but its implementation is still too recent to assess its results.

On the other hand, Italy has a more consolidated path. The experience gained during the Conto Energia period is reflected in operators with a strong technical culture and a rigorous approach to regulatory management. However, I have observed that the development of new projects is faced with more complex authorization processes, primarily due to the lack of harmonization between the state and regional levels, and landscape restrictions in some areas.

In short, these are two markets with complementary strengths: one more institutional and technical, the other more dynamic and scale-oriented. Having worked in both allows me to understand these differences and apply the best of each approach in the solutions we offer at TAKUU.

In Italy, there’s growing talk of repowering and revamping. Is this really the new frontier, or are we underestimating other emerging assets or dynamics?

Repowering and revamping are essential today to leverage existing assets, but the real frontier lies in the development of hybrid systems, integrating photovoltaic, wind, and energy storage systems (BESS). Market evolution, with increasing curtailment and the growing share of renewables, requires cross-functional skills and advanced management of new revenue stacking models. TAKUU CONSULTING supports clients in this transition, offering tailored technical and strategic advice.

How do you see the role of technical and strategic consulting in photovoltaics evolving over the next five years? Will there be more room for independent, specialized operators like you?

Over the next five years, technical and strategic consulting in the photovoltaic sector will be increasingly in demand, especially for the management of PPAs and storage systems. The growth of renewable assets and the complexity of new business models will make it essential to rely on independent and highly specialized partners like TAKUU CONSULTING, capable of offering customized, flexible, and, above all, rapid solutions.

What advice would you give to a young professional who wants to enter the world of photovoltaics and asset management today?

Photovoltaics is a rapidly expanding sector, offering many real opportunities for those who are eager to learn. My advice is to build cross-disciplinary skills: thoroughly understand both the technical and economic-financial aspects. Asset management, in particular, gives you a comprehensive view of how a system actually works and what it takes to make it profitable over time. It’s a dynamic, concrete field, where you work on real problems and where you can grow quickly, especially if you have a practical, results-oriented approach.

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The Importance of Quality in Solar Energy

One of the most relevant aspects that emerged during the summit was the value of quality as a competitive advantage. Investing in high-quality components and practices not only increases the lifespan of systems, but is a key factor for the competitiveness of companies in the market. It was highlighted that every euro invested in quality translates into greater reliability and fewer problems in the long term. Another crucial theme was the role of digitalization and automation.

The adoption of artificial intelligence and automation can reduce human intervention and optimize the management processes of photovoltaic systems, but for this to happen, a cultural change within companies is necessary. Furthermore, interoperability between digital platforms was identified as an essential element to improve the efficiency and scalability of technological solutions.

Cyber ​​Security Threats in Photovoltaic Systems

The Evolving European Solar Market

Energy Storage: The Next Step for Photovoltaics

Artificial Intelligence in Photovoltaic System Maintenance

Workforce Development: A Growing Sector, But With Skills Shortages

Towards a Circular Economy in Photovoltaics

One of the most innovative topics discussed at the summit was the reuse of solar panels, inverters and spare parts. Currently, the design of photovoltaic modules does not facilitate repair and the lack of certification standards hinders the spread of the reuse market. Furthermore, the willingness of consumers to pay a premium for remanufacturable products is still uncertain. To address these issues, the Basel Convention has established rules for the management of electronic waste, regulating the transport and reuse of photovoltaic components in a more responsible and sustainable way.

Conclusions

The Solar Quality Summit 2025 highlighted how the future of solar energy is heavily dependent on quality assurance, digital transformation, cybersecurity and training a skilled workforce. As the sector continues to grow, it will be critical to address emerging risks, adapt to regulatory changes and adopt innovative strategies to ensure a sustainable and resilient solar market. The key message? Investing in quality and innovation today means ensuring a stronger and more lasting future for the solar industry.

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Energy efficiency is at the centre of the global debate, considered essential to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainable use of resources. At a time when climate policies are accelerating, KEY 2025 stands as a catalyst for change, offering a platform to discuss and develop effective strategies. This event highlights the importance of energy efficiency and promotes it as a fundamental pillar for a more sustainable future.

Record numbers for KEY 2025

The 2025 edition of KEY – The Energy Transition Expo recorded record numbers, confirming its growing impact on the global energy sector. With a 20% increase compared to 2024, the total attendance reached unprecedented figures. International presence marked an increase of 40%, underlining the global appeal of the event and its relevance in the dialogue on energy transition.

Over 1,000 exhibitors participated, of which more than 30% came from abroad, demonstrating a variety and diversity of solutions presented. In addition, 350 hosted buyers and delegations from over 50 countries enriched the event. The Rimini exhibition center hosted the expo on 90,000 m² of space, divided into 20 pavilions.

With more than 160 events, conferences and workshops, KEY 2025 demonstrated significant growth compared to previous editions. These figures not only reflect the success of the event, but also its ability to attract a diverse audience and strengthen its global presence.

KEY 2025 targets

The main objectives of KEY – The Energy Transition Expo 2025 were focused on accelerating the energy transition and promoting the development of renewable energy in Europe and worldwide. Here are the key points:

1. Promoting Renewable Energy

KEY 2025 aimed to promote the spread of renewable sources such as solar, wind, green hydrogen and energy storage, highlighting the most advanced technologies and leading projects.

2. Supporting decarbonisation

A central objective was to help companies and institutions reduce their carbon footprint through energy efficiency solutions, climate neutrality strategies and incentives for the electrification of consumption.

3. Technological innovation and digitalisation

The event promoted the integration of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and IoT, to optimise energy production, distribution and consumption.

4. Development of sustainable infrastructure

Particular attention was paid to energy storage systems, smart grids and the integration of hydrogen as the energy vector of the future.

5. Promoting collaboration between sectors

KEY 2025 encouraged partnerships between companies, startups, institutions and universities to accelerate research and development in the field of renewable energy.

6. Training and Green Jobs

Through the Green Jobs & Skills program, the event offered training and networking opportunities for professionals and young talents, supporting the growth of employment in the energy transition sector.

7. Focus on Electric Mobility and Sustainable Cities

The event dedicated an area to e-mobility, zero-emission transport and sustainable urban transformation, with pilot projects for smart cities.

These objectives made KEY 2025 a strategic event for the growth of renewable energy and environmental sustainability.

KEY 2025 Exhibition Sectors

In the context of KEY 2025, the fair is divided into seven product areas, each of which plays a crucial role in the energy transition. These sectors offer platforms for innovation and dialogue, contributing to a more sustainable and inclusive energy transition.

SEC – Solar Expo & Conference: dedicates space to solar technologies, promoting discussions on solar energy as a primary renewable source.

WEM – Wind Expo for Med: focused on wind energy, exploring the opportunities of wind, especially in the Mediterranean region.

KSE – Key Storage Expo: highlights the importance of energy storage solutions to improve the efficiency of energy systems.

HYPE – Hydrogen Power Expo: explores the potential of hydrogen as an energy carrier, supported by advances in fuel cells.

EFFI – Energy Efficiency Expo: presents technologies and measures to reduce energy consumption, essential for greater efficiency.

EME – e-Mobility Expo: focuses on electric mobility, promoting electric vehicles and sustainable charging infrastructure.

Sustainable City: focuses on urban sustainability, promoting practices that support the development of green cities.

These sectors not only shape the path of the energy transition, but also create a dynamic ecosystem for innovation and collaboration between companies, investors and institutions.

Evolving Energy Policies

During the KEY 2025 event, several policies and regulations related to energy transition and climate change were addressed. The European Union is experiencing an acceleration of climate policies that aim to balance energy security with ambitious green transition goals. The European Green Deal remains central, setting the goal of climate neutrality by 2050. However, regulations need to be adapted to address emerging challenges and optimize advanced energy transition programs.

New regulations include incentives for low-carbon technologies, such as green hydrogen, which could revolutionize energy-intensive industries. Financial incentives are designed to attract investments in renewable energy, with a particular focus on solar, wind and innovative technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs). In addition, the Climate Finance Roadmap is seeking to close the climate finance gap, involving the private sector. These legislations include measures to facilitate the integration of sustainable technologies and incentivize companies to invest in clean energy projects. The event highlighted:

• Acceleration of energy and climate policies: the opportunities offered by the renewable energy and energy efficiency market were discussed, with a focus on the integration of European and national regulations.
• Institutional support: the participation of delegates and decision makers from over 50 countries, thanks to the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ICE Agency, underlined the importance of a global approach.
• Innovative projects: programs such as Green Jobs & Skills were presented, aimed at promoting the meeting between companies and young talents, in line with the regulations on sustainable development

A significant example is the introduction of tax incentives for the installation of domestic solar panels. These economic benefits are designed to reduce initial costs and make solar energy more accessible to consumers. In addition, incentives were proposed for companies that develop energy storage technologies, essential for improving the stability of electricity networks.

These policies not only promote a sustainable energy transition, but also create opportunities for economic and employment growth, encouraging the adoption of green technologies on a large scale.

Innovation through Research and Development

At KEY 2025, technological innovations played a crucial role in shaping the future of the energy sector. One of the emerging trends is AI Autonomy, which envisions a future where artificial intelligence will operate autonomously, requiring a new relationship of trust between companies and consumers. This allows to fully exploit the capabilities of AI, improving efficiency and innovation.

Another significant innovation is The Binary Big Bang, a concept that represents a radical change in technological systems, driven by foundation models that improve natural language processing. This phenomenon is set to multiply digital output, accelerating innovation.

Among the innovative projects presented, SouthTown in Ann Arbor and Sunset Park Solar in Brooklyn stand out. SouthTown promotes democratic energy with off-grid systems, while Sunset Park Solar is an example of a community solar project that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Both projects demonstrate the importance of innovation in achieving a sustainable energy transition.

Another notable technology is the rapidly growing European biomethane, which offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. France, in particular, is emerging as a leader, and this development is helping to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy security.

In addition, the I-REC system is evolving, introducing new products and tracking systems that increase transparency and accountability in renewable energy sourcing.

Collaborations between companies and institutions were another pillar of the innovation showcased. Boston Medical Center’s Clean Power Prescription project, for example, demonstrated how partnerships can reduce low-income patients’ electricity bills while improving health outcomes. These initiatives highlight the importance of pooling resources and expertise to address the challenges of the energy transition.

In summary, the technologies on display at KEY 2025 improve energy efficiency and represent the future of the energy transition, offering integrated solutions that can be deployed globally.

KEY 2025 highlighted the challenges of the energy transition, including rising electricity demand and changing geopolitical dynamics. However, it also highlighted countless opportunities, such as the integration of digital technologies and innovative projects that promote sustainability. These elements demonstrate the need for creative solutions and strategic collaborations to address a greener energy future.

The next edition of KEY – The Energy Transition Expo is already scheduled! It will be held in Rimini from 4 to 6 March 2026. It will be another occasion to explore the innovations and opportunities related to the energy transition. With the success of previous editions, we can expect an even richer and more inspiring event.

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How Photovoltaic Storage Works

Energy storage is essential to optimizing the use of photovoltaic systems. This system allows you to store excess electricity produced during peak solar hours, to then send it back to the grid or use it when production is low.
The heart of storage systems are batteries, which transform solar energy into chemical energy, and then convert it back into electricity.
The process of storing energy in photovoltaic systems is essential to optimizing the use of solar resources. It starts with solar panels that capture solar energy, converting it into direct current (DC) electricity. This energy is then transferred to a storage system, usually consisting of batteries, which stores it for future use.
The next step is the conversion of the stored energy. Batteries store energy in the form of direct current, but to power most appliances and devices, conversion to alternating current (AC) is necessary. An inverter does this, making the energy usable for home consumption or for being fed into the electricity grid.
Imagine the process as a simplified diagram: solar energy is collected by panels ➔ stored in batteries ➔ converted from DC to AC ➔ used or distributed.
This technology allows you to make the most of solar energy, reducing grid dependency and supporting a transition to a more sustainable energy future.

Types of Batteries for Photovoltaic Systems

When it comes to batteries for solar systems, the main choices include:

Lead-Acid Batteries: These batteries use lead plates immersed in sulfuric acid. They are known for their lower cost and proven reliability, but they tend to be heavier and bulkier. They also require regular maintenance.

Lithium-Ion Batteries: These batteries offer higher energy density and longer lifespan than lead-acid batteries. They are lighter and more compact, making them ideal for mobile and residential applications, but they do cost more to manufacture. Choosing between these two types of batteries depends on your specific energy needs and the cost you are willing to pay. Lithium-ion batteries, for example, while more expensive, offer greater efficiency and longevity advantages, making them a popular choice for those looking for more advanced renewable energy solutions.

Advantages of Photovoltaic Storage

Integrating storage into photovoltaic systems offers numerous advantages that enhance energy efficiency and sustainability. Let’s see how:
• Optimization of solar energy use: storage allows you to use solar energy as soon as it is available, storing the excess for times of need, such as at night or on cloudy days. This dynamic system reduces waste and maximizes self-consumption;
• Reduction of energy costs: by using stored energy during peak hours, you can reduce dependence on the electricity grid and therefore save on energy costs;
• Greater energy independence: by using stored energy, users can reduce their dependence on electricity price fluctuations and power outages, gaining greater energy autonomy and stability;
• Optimal energy management: photovoltaic storage allows you to optimally manage the energy produced by solar panels, avoiding waste and optimizing consumption to maximize energy efficiency;
• Reduction of CO2 emissions: by using solar and stored energy, you contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the adoption of more sustainable energy sources;
• Greater energy security: With photovoltaic storage, you have greater energy security in the event of blackouts or emergencies, since you have an alternative source of energy.
In short, photovoltaic storage is transforming the energy sector by making it more sustainable, resilient and innovative.

Overview of Storage Systems in Italy

The landscape of storage systems in Italy is constantly evolving, with different segments showing different trends. Here is a summary of the main trends and developments:
Storage Segments
1. Residential Segment: recorded a 25% contraction in the number of installations, mainly due to the end of the Superbonus 110%. Power and capacity also decreased by 31% and 29% respectively;
2. Commercial-Industrial (C&I) Segment: saw an 18% decline in the number of installations, with a 29% reduction in power and 11% in capacity;
3. Utility Scale Segment: grew significantly, with a 133% increase in the number of units installed, a 532% increase in power and a 2877% increase in capacity. This segment is driven by the plants that won the capacity market auction and by merchant plants.
Among the successful projects, Enel’s TES and Energy Dome’s CO2 battery stand out. These innovations are concrete examples of Italy’s commitment to sustainable and advanced storage solutions. By using common materials and innovative technologies, these projects reduce dependence on rare materials and improve energy efficiency.
National policies play a key role in supporting this growth. Government incentives and tax breaks are encouraging the adoption of storage systems, although bureaucratic hurdles remain. With improved permitting and infrastructure, Italy can consolidate its position in the global storage market.

Future of Energy with Photovoltaic Storage

The future of PV storage looks bright, with trends pointing to the increasing integration of renewables into the electricity grid. As PV installations continue to expand, the capacity and power of storage systems will follow suit, improving the stability of the electricity grid. Italy is expected to have the highest share of new energy storage systems in Europe in the coming years, thanks to the optimization of renewable energy production and grid stability. Events such as the ‘Power Up Your Future ESS Experience Day’ organized by Sungrow, have highlighted the importance of storage systems in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Experts predict significant technological developments, including new innovative solutions such as PowerTitan 2.0 and PowerStack 200CS, which promise to improve grid stability and reduce energy costs. This progress, combined with greater collaboration between stakeholders, could usher in an era of more efficient and sustainable storage systems.
The safety of energy storage systems (BESS) and their ability to maintain the stability of the electricity grid will become increasingly important. Technologies such as grid-forming will ensure the long-term stability of new energy systems
Policies in favor of renewable energy will continue to support the growth of the sector. Government incentives and environmental regulations will play a crucial role in accelerating the transition to a cleaner energy future.
In summary, the future of energy with photovoltaic storage promises to be an opportunity to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable, efficient and resilient energy system, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the fight against climate change.

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