Italy’s battery storage boom: nearly 7 GW of capacity approved in two months

Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security approved single authorizations for BESS projects with a combined capacity of 3.7 GW in October. This exceeded the previous record set in September, when 3.2 GW was approved. In total, projects representing nearly 7 GW of capacity received the green light in just two months. The average size of planned facilities is also increasing. In October, it reached 154 MW (compared to 125 MW a month earlier), while the median project capacity remained at 100 MW.

Apulia leads Italy’s BESS market by a wide margin

The southern region of Apulia remains the undisputed hub of investment activity. In October alone, it accounted for 12 of the 24 authorizations issued, representing 2.24 GW of capacity (as much as 60.6% of the total monthly volume). The highest concentration of investments was recorded in the province of Foggia, where six projects with a combined capacity of approximately 752 MW were approved.

Outside Apulia, significant approvals were granted in:

• Umbria – where Rinascita Botticelli received approval to build the Castra Energiae Umbriae facility in Castel Giorgio, with a power capacity of 434.5 MW and an energy storage capacity of approximately 1.5 GWh (340 battery containers).
• Sardinia – where projects totaling 305 MW received approval, including the 250 MW Urus Storage project near Cagliari.
• Northern Italy – which accounted for 11% of the approved capacity (420 MW across five projects), located in Piedmont, Lombardy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Emilia-Romagna.

Key developers expand their portfolios

Major players dominate the investment landscape, steadily expanding their portfolios of approved projects:

• ACL Energy – secured approvals for 366 MW in October (including 250 MW for Lucera 1). Together with September’s approvals, the Milan-based company now holds permits for 728 MW.
• Engie – the French energy group secured approvals for 262.4 MW (including 140 MW at its gas-fired power plant in Leinì). Combined with the Andria project approved in September, this brings its total to 366.4 MW.
• Energy Total Capital – obtained approvals for 249 MW in October, increasing its portfolio of approved capacity to 471 MW.

In most cases, the battery discharge duration specified in the approved applications ranges from 3.5 to more than 4.5 hours. For example, the Civitavecchia project (70 MW) is designed with an energy storage capacity of 282.15 MWh, providing approximately four hours of operation at full power.

Construction timelines vary considerably, ranging from 6 to 31 months, with most medium-sized facilities expected to be completed within 9 to 24 months.