Sardinia, Calabria and Tuscany are lagging furthest behind their targets. Puglia has seen a record number of applications

The more than 4,000 projects – wind farms and, for the most part, solar power projects – currently stuck in the authorisation process in Italia amount to around 150 GW, according to Confindustria. This figure is far higher than the 46 GW currently required to meet the targets of the Pniec (Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan) of 131 GW of installed capacity by 2030. As at 31 March, Terna had in fact recorded 85 GW of operational renewable capacity across the country: the majority from solar (45) and wind (14). The Pniec estimates that up to 63.4 per cent of electricity demand will be met by renewable sources (Terna confirms that in 2025, renewable sources covered 41 per cent of demand), leading to greater energy security for the country, reduced dependence on foreign sources and lower energy bills for businesses and households.

The growth in new national installed capacity has been steadily increasing in recent years, reaching 7.2 GW by 2025, down from 7.5 GW in 2024. On a national average, between January 2021 and March 2026, we installed 26.5 GW of capacity, exceeding the minimum target of 25.4 GW set out in the Ministerial Decree on Suitable Areas, which also establishes a regional breakdown of the capacity to be deployed (burden sharing). However, several regions are behind schedule, a shortfall offset by others that are more advanced. Specifically, the regions not on track to meet their targets (again according to Terna data updated as at 31 March) are Sardinia (-461 MW), Calabria (-383 MW), Tuscany (-225 MW), Apulia (-211 MW), Basilicata (-181 MW), Umbria (-160 MW), Sicily (-150 MW), Molise (-150 MW), Marche (-102 MW), Abruzzo (-93 MW), Liguria (-76 MW), and Valle d’Aosta (-19 MW). The regions with the best performance, on the other hand, are Lazio (+1,315 MW), Lombardy (+738 MW), Piedmont (+419 MW), Veneto (+394 MW), Friuli-Venezia Giulia (+321 MW), Trentino-Alto Adige (+98 MW), Campania (+68 MW) and Emilia-Romagna (+29 MW).

Another ranking worth noting is that of the regions with the highest number of permit applications, with Puglia, Sicily and Sardinia topping the list. According to the REgions2030 Observatory, compiled by Elemens and Public Affairs Advisors, which monitors the development of renewables across Italy’s various regions, the situation in Puglia is as follows: it has 43 GW currently undergoing the authorisation process, of which 28 GW are on hold in Rome pending an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), whilst 15 GW are on hold at regional level. In 2025, it authorised 3 GW, and over the last five years, 7 GW. Sicily, on the other hand, has 30 GW undergoing the authorisation process, of which 14 GW are on hold in Rome awaiting an EIA, whilst 16 GW are on hold at regional level. In 2025, it authorised 1.5 GW and, over the last five years, 10 GW. Finally, Sardinia: here, there are projects totalling 21 GW currently undergoing the authorisation process, of which 18 GW are on hold in Rome pending an EIA and 3 GW are on hold at regional level. In 2025, it authorised less than 0.1 GW and, over the last five years, 1.5 GW.

All this against a backdrop in which, between 2020 and the end of 2025, applications for authorisation have been submitted in our country for over 200 GW of solar and wind projects, excluding offshore projects (see also *Il Sole 24 Ore* of 26 February). Meanwhile, Terna has received applications for connection to the high-voltage grid totalling around 322 GW.

‘The authorisation process for starting construction of a plant can take as long as 5–8 years. In India, where we operate, it takes between 6 and 12 months. Of course, we need to make the necessary distinctions – there are different levels of complexity – but the contrast is striking. The risk is that companies with investment plans in Italia may decide to reallocate their resources to other countries,” explains Alessandro Ceschiat, General Manager for Italia at Enfinity Global, an international group based in Miami which has projects in Italia totalling 9.3 GW (2.6 GW of solar power, of which 1.2 GW has been authorised, 469 MW under construction and 345 MW already operational, and 6.7 GW of battery storage, of which more than 600 MW has already been authorised), 1.1 GW contracted with utilities, businesses and industrial customers, and 1.5 billion already invested in the country. “We’d like to double that, if the authorisations were granted. The delays,” continues Ceschiat, “make it difficult to build the plants because a project started 5–8 years ago may no longer be economically viable.” “We are calling for the deadlines set by law to be respected,” he emphasises, “with more staff in public administrations and a government round-table involving the main operators to find effective solutions together.”