If you are considering joining a Renewable Energy Community or creating a new one, incentives are certainly one of the most interesting aspects to consider. In this guide, we will explore in detail how incentives for energy communities work in 2025, helping you understand the real economic benefits of this choice.
The incentive system
The incentive system for energy communities is designed to make these projects not only environmentally sustainable but also economically advantageous.
In fact, those who participate in an energy community receive:
- An incentive tariff: this is a contribution granted by the GSE for every kilowatt-hour of energy produced from renewable sources and virtually shared among community members. This incentive lasts for 20 years from the date each plant becomes operational and varies according to the size of the plant and the market value of energy: it ranges from a minimum of €60 to a maximum of €120 per megawatt-hour. Moreover, for photovoltaic systems, an additional bonus of up to €10/MWh is available, depending on the geographical area where the system is located.
- A valorization fee: this is an additional payment defined by ARERA (Italian Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment), calculated based on the amount of energy virtually self-consumed within the energy community. This contribution aims to reward the reduced use of the national power grid, as the energy is produced and consumed locally. For this reason, it does not depend on the type of system used but on the geographical proximity between the producer and the consumer. Currently, this fee amounts to about €8 per megawatt-hour of self-consumed energy.
If part of the energy produced is not immediately self-consumed—i.e., not used directly by community members at the time of production—it remains the property of the producer, who can sell it on the market or ask the GSE to buy it through the "Ritiro Dedicato" (Dedicated Withdrawal) under advantageous conditions (learn more about this in the article on the end of the net metering).
Additionally, for energy communities established in municipalities with a population of up to 50,000 inhabitants, a non-repayable grant is available covering 40% of the eligible investment costs, thanks to funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).
This measure was introduced by the new regulatory update of the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security on May 16, 2025, which expanded the range of beneficiaries compared to the previous version of the decree, which was initially limited to municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants.
Another significant change concerns the reduction of the incentive. In fact, the previous 50% reduction of the incentive is no longer applicable, not even for individuals, in addition to the other already excluded entities.
The decree is currently under review by the Court of Auditors. It will only be published and come into effect after this step.
What are the actual savings?
Let’s take the example of a family of four with an average annual consumption of 3.200 kWh and an annual electricity bill of around €1.900 (based on an average tariff of €0.60/kWh). By joining an energy community with a photovoltaic system, this family could achieve:
- An annual saving of about €1.500 thanks to the self-consumption of the energy produced by their own system;
- A further benefit of €500 per year from the valorization of energy fed into the grid;
- An additional annual gain, on the average, of around €100–150 from the distribution of incentives on shared energy.
In total, considering all these factors, a family of four can save between €2.100 and €2.150 per year, which represents approximately 110–113% of their annual energy expenditure. This calculation already includes REC management and maintenance costs.
For small and medium-sized enterprises, these savings can be even more significant, especially when considering energy self-production during peak usage hours.
Who can access the incentives?
Access to incentives is open to all members of an energy community who meet specific requirements. You don’t need to own a production plant: even those who only participate as consumers can benefit from the economic advantages of energy sharing. What matters is that members are connected to the same primary substation and that the energy is produced from renewable sources.
The application and management process
Obtaining incentives requires accurate and professional management. The process starts with registering the REC with the GSE and continues with constant monitoring of energy flows. This is where the importance of having expert partners comes into play—those who can handle both technical and administrative aspects, ensuring the community gets the most out of the available incentive mechanisms.
In this regard, HexErgy allows not only the design and creation of the energy community but also complete management, including energy data monitoring and transparent incentive distribution, based on the percentages set by the REC members.
Do you want to create an energy community and take full advantage of the incentives?
Contact us with no obligation: at HexErgy, we will guide you through every stage of your REC’s life, helping you maximize all the benefits it can offer!
Through our platform, we also manage the entire process related to NRRP incentives.