Grid-scale

NHOA Energy secures first MACSE battery awards in Italy with 600 MWh across two projects

Italy’s MACSE scheme has already allocated storage capacity, and NHOA’s announcements now confirms its first contracted projects under the mechanism.

By

Tristan Rayner

Mar 02, 2026

NHOA Energy said today that it has been awarded its first large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) under Italy’s MACSE capacity mechanism, with two projects totalling 90 MW / 600 MWh.

The company, which designs and builds BESS projects, said the projects are located in Campania and Sardinia, and that it had been hired “by a leading independent platform in the renewables and energy transition sector,” though it did not name the IPP.

Italy’s MACSE (Meccanismo di Approvvigionamento di Capacità di Stoccaggio Elettrico) has provided a significant boost to both the battery industry and Italy’s grid. It is designed to procure long-duration storage capacity through competitive auctions run by transmission system operator Terna.

The first MACSE auction concluded in late 2025, with tariffs coming in dramatically below the reserve premium, which was set at €37,000 per MWh per year.

To be clear, the latest announcement does not represent a new auction round. NHOA’s first systems awarded under MACSE are also not its first involvement in Italy generally, where it has been active for some years.

Securing specific MACSE-backed contracts gives the company exposure to a more stable revenue model and shows that winners in the auction are now engaging firms to progress projects from pipeline towards contracted capacity and delivery dates. NHOA said site installation activities for both projects “are expected to start by September 2026” and commissioning is targeted to meet well within the January 2028 start-up date required under the MACSE framework.

“Following the BESS deployed under Terna Storage Lab, UPI, Fast Reserve and Capacity Market schemes, these projects represent another major step forward for NHOA Energy in Italy, combining new market mechanisms, advanced proprietary technology and a strong industrial partnership,” said Fabrizio Ciaccia, Vice President EMEA of NHOA Energy.

NHOA Energy did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the contracting partner.

Written by

Tristan Rayner

Tristan is an Electrical Engineer with experience in consulting and public sector works in plant procurement. He has previously been Managing Editor and Founding Editor of tech and other publications in Australia.

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