Interventions

When uncertainty becomes predictable: the new energy paradigm for business

by Mitia Cugusi

30 April 2026

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Recent tensions in the Middle East have once again brought volatility to the energy markets and pressures on the real economy, particularly the industrial system. However, to regard them as a contingent phenomenon would be an error of perspective: in recent years, amid geopolitical crises, inflationary shocks and fragile supply chains, instability has gradually transformed from an exception into a structural condition.

For companies, this means one thing in particular: energy management is no longer a secondary aspect, to be relegated to the purchasing area or treated as a mere cost item. It has become a strategic lever affecting margins, investment capacity, business continuity and competitiveness.

The point today is not just to get the best price in the short term, but to build more predictable conditions in the medium to long term. If uncertainty is recurring, the real competitive advantage lies in the ability to govern it.

In this scenario, distributed generation and self-consumption models are assuming an increasingly central role in industrial strategies. Producing a share of the energy directly at the production site - through photovoltaic systems installed on roofs, car parks or available areas - makes it possible to act simultaneously on three decisive factors: cost reduction, greater energy security and less exposure to market volatility.

Reinforcing the model is the evolution of storage systems. Integration with batteries makes it possible to optimise energy flows, increase the utilisation of the energy produced and improve the management of peak demand or expensive time slots. For many manufacturing companies, this is a key step towards greater operational efficiency.

In parallel, contractual instruments are also evolving. Solutions such as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) allow companies to adopt self-consumption systems without initial investment: the energy partner finances, builds and manages the infrastructure, while the company buys the energy produced at a defined and stable price over a multi-year horizon. This logic transforms a variable component of the energy cost into a more plannable element.

It is in this context that Greenvolt Next is establishing itself as one of the most dynamic players in the European distributed energy market for businesses. In 2025, new signed capacity reached 412 MWp, up 45% year-on-year. The contract portfolio increased to 684 MWp (+66%), of which 110 MWp is already covered by PPAs. In addition, 380 MWp of the portfolio are under construction and 95 MWp are already operational under PPA (+90% compared to FY2024). Numbers that reflect a growing demand from the European production fabric and the solidity of an industrial model oriented towards the long term.

The concreteness of this approach also emerges from the projects implemented. An example comes from the chemical-industrial sector in Italia where a photovoltaic system was developed and installed at a 582.4 kWp production site with an expected production of 762 MWh per year.

With a total annual demand of 1.6 GWh, the system allows the direct self-consumption of about 526 MWh per year, equal to 69% of the energy produced and 33% of the site's consumption. The portion of self-consumed energy alone would generate an economic benefit estimated at about 45,000 euros per year, variable depending on the trend of energy prices, the site's consumption profile, and the supply conditions applied.

The most significant fact, however, is strategic: a share of consumption is sheltered from market fluctuations through a more stable and predictable cost of energy, without absorbing financial resources allocated to the core business.

For companies, therefore, the energy transition is no longer just a sustainability choice. It is an industrial decision in its own right. It means reducing risk, protecting margins, improving planning capacity and strengthening competitiveness in a scenario where uncertainty has become permanent.

The price of energy remains central, but, increasingly, the ability to govern it over time will make the difference.

President of Greenvolt Next Italia