BESS projects for sale in Italy: standalone battery storage

Why investors look at battery storage projects in Italy

The growth of solar and wind generation increases the need for flexibility: shifting energy over the day, supporting the grid and providing services to the system operator. Battery storage projects in Italy respond to this need and attract IPPs, utilities, infrastructure funds and specialised storage developers.

Unlike a solar plant, a BESS does not depend on irradiation. Its value depends on the grid connection, on the services it can provide and on the contracts or market mechanisms it can access. This makes the analysis different and, in some respects, more technical.

MACSE and the market context

Terna manages MACSE, the mechanism for the forward procurement of electricity storage capacity through auctions. For standalone BESS, MACSE is an important reference because it offers a structured way to contract capacity over time. Alongside it, storage can operate on energy markets and on the ancillary services market.

Pipeline.Solar does not provide forecasts of auction results or market revenues. How a specific project could participate in MACSE or in other markets is part of your own assessment, with your advisors, on the documents in the data room.

Grid connection for standalone BESS

As for solar, the connection is often the decisive element. A standalone BESS needs an accepted STMG from the network operator, usually Terna for larger projects connected to the high-voltage grid. Elements to check include:

• the connection point and whether network works are shared with other producers;
• the power indicated in the STMG and its consistency with the project;
• the cost of the connection and the estimated connection days indicated in the offer;
• the validity of the STMG under the TICA rules.

For more on the connection process, see solar projects with grid connection and our STMG and TICA guide.

Permitting a BESS project

Storage systems follow the authorisation framework reorganised by Legislative Decree 190/2024 (Testo unico FER), with regimes that range from simplified procedures to the single authorisation, depending on the characteristics of the project. Fire safety, noise, landscape constraints and the distance from sensitive receptors are frequent topics in the procedure.

A standalone BESS RTB in Italy usually combines an authorisation title, an accepted STMG and secured land rights, as for solar. Late-stage storage projects with a permit still under review can also be shared, with the open items clearly stated.

Power and capacity as search criteria

For BESS the matching works on the power of the single plant, expressed in MW, as for solar projects. When you set your criteria in the reserved area, you indicate the minimum and maximum MW you are looking for. If you also have requirements on storage capacity (MWh) or duration, mention them during the introductory call so that the staff can take them into account when screening.

If you are interested in solar plus storage on the same site, see the page on hybrid solar and BESS projects.

What to check in a BESS project

Beyond grid and permit, storage projects raise some specific questions that usually lead to the data room:

• the planned technology and the space available for containers, transformers and fire safety distances;
• the land title, in surface right (DDS) or ownership, and its duration compared with the expected life of the plant;
• any studies already carried out on market participation and on the configuration required by MACSE;
• the presence of nearby generation plants that could later be combined with the battery.

Answers come from the documents after the NDA. Due diligence remains with you and your advisors.

How to receive BESS teasers

Write to us on WhatsApp or fill in the investor access form. After the call you receive a personal link to the reserved area, where you select BESS among the technologies and set stages, regions, structures and capacity range. When a compatible project enters the pipeline, the staff sends you a teaser. Next come the NDA, the data room and direct negotiation with the project owner. Opportunities depend on the projects available at the time.

Register and set your BESS criteria.