Italy outlines national energy-storage auction requirements

Italian grid operator Terna has published an FAQ document to clarify some of the aspects of the “Macse,” energy-storage system (ESS)-dedicated national auction planned for September.

Terna’s FAQs clarified the signing of ESS component supply contracts will not constitute a project’s “start of work” milestone if the supply contract is conditional on a project being successful in the auction.

To participate in the Macse auction, ESS projects must hold construction and operation permits and, where appropriate, concessions for water use during plant construction and operation.

ESS projects which form part of solar-plus-storage sites, alongside solar projects, can participate in the auction.

Any changes to the corporate structure of companies participating in the Macse auction, whether they occur after the deadline for applying to participate or after projects are allocated, must be communicated “promptly” to Terna.

Any projects hoping to take part in the auction may do so even if an appeal has been lodged against the award of their permits but any pre-auction ruling which suspends or cancels permits required for Macse participation will mean the project can no longer be considered. If such a decision is made after a project has been allocated under the auction, the project owner may invoke force majeure to continue project development.

Projects which complete the registration requirements to participate in the Macse auction but which do not obtain the required permits in time, or which choose not to submit an auction bid, will be able to reclaim their pre-auction financial guarantees.

From pv magazine Italia.