Italian region allocates funding for renewables, energy storage for business

The Sulcis Iglesiente mining region in the southwest of the Italian island of Sardinia will receive €11 million ($12.7 million) of public funds to incentivize SMEs to install clean energy and energy storage technology.

The move was announced on Wednesday by Sardinia’s Councillor for Industry Emanuele Cani, speaking at a meeting with trade associations in the municipality of Sant’Antioco.

There are two funding thresholds applicable. Under the European Union’s general block exemption regulation (GBER), which does not require the European Commission to approve the incentive program, applicants can receive 40% to 65% of the costs of renewables and storage systems, depending on their type of business. The GBER applies to grants ranging from €20,000 to €500,000. Under the European Union’s separate De Minimis (of minimal things) funding rules, applicants could instead receive all the costs of the equipment, up to a value of €300,000.

The incentive program is expected to be formally notified this month and applications will be assessed and disbursed on a first come, first served basis until the funds are exhausted.

Cani announced Sardinia would soon publish a call for proposals for similar schemes to aid the energy transition and reduce company electricity bills across the island.

The first of three planned events explaining how Sulcis Iglesiente businesses can apply for grants will be held at 10:00 a.m. (CET) in the town of Carbonia, at the headquarters of the Sotacarbo Research Center.

From pv magazine Italia.