How to use this glossary
Definitions are kept short and practical. Where a term has its own guide, the entry links to it. Regulatory references are limited to sources we consider reliable; for anything that affects a specific deal, investors rely on their own advisors.
A to C
Agrivoltaic
A solar plant designed to coexist with agricultural activity on the same land. In Italy it follows the MASE guidelines of June 2022; Ministerial Decree 436/2023 provided PNRR support for advanced agrivoltaic plants. See agrivoltaic projects.
Aree idonee (suitable areas)
Areas identified by national rules, the Ministerial Decree of 21 June 2024, and by regional laws. Whether a site falls in a suitable area affects authorisation procedures and timing.
ARERA
The Italian energy regulator. Its resolution ARG/elt 99/08 adopted the TICA rules on grid connections.
Asset deal
Purchase of the project assets, such as titles, connection rights and contracts, rather than of the company holding them.
AU (autorizzazione unica)
Single authorisation issued after a procedure involving the competent administrations. One of the three regimes under Legislative Decree 190/2024. See PAS and AU permitting.
BESS
Battery energy storage system. It can be standalone or co-located with a solar plant in a hybrid project.
Brownfield
On Pipeline.Solar, a plant built or in its final phase, ready to be connected and awaiting energisation.
CAPEX
Capital expenditure needed to build the plant, including equipment, EPC works and connection works on the user side.
CfD
Contract for difference. Under FER X, a two-way CfD settles the difference between a reference price and the market price.
COD
Commercial Operation Date: the moment the plant starts commercial production.
Co-development
An arrangement in which an investor funds a developer and pays as development milestones are reached. See co-development milestones.
D to M
Data room
The set of project documents made available to the investor after the NDA. See the data room checklist.
DDS (diritto di superficie)
Surface right under articles 952 and following of the Italian Civil Code, used to secure land for a plant without buying it.
EPC
Engineering, procurement and construction: the contractor, or contract, responsible for building the plant.
FER X
MASE decree of 30 December 2024 supporting mature renewables, including solar, through two-way contracts for difference managed by the GSE.
Greenfield
Early-stage development. On this site, investors look for developers who develop on their behalf with milestone payments.
GSE
Gestore dei Servizi Energetici, the public company that manages support schemes for renewables in Italy.
Late-stage (near RTB)
A project close to RTB with one or more elements still missing, such as an approved PAS.
MACSE
The mechanism run by Terna for the forward procurement of electricity storage capacity through auctions.
MASE
The Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security.
N to R
NDA
Non-disclosure agreement signed before accessing the data room. See NDA for solar investments.
NTP
Notice to Proceed: the instruction to the EPC contractor to start construction.
O&M
Operation and maintenance of the plant once it is in service.
PAS
Procedura abilitativa semplificata, a simplified municipal authorisation procedure. Teasers state separately whether the PAS is filed and approved.
PPA
Power purchase agreement: a contract to sell the electricity produced to a buyer over an agreed period.
RTB
Ready to build: the project holds the authorisation, an accepted connection and land rights. See what RTB means in solar.
S to Z
Scouting agreement
An agreement that, where provided, regulates the introduction of a project and protects against circumvention.
Share deal
Purchase of the shares of the project company, which keeps its titles, contracts and history.
SPV
Special purpose vehicle: the project company that holds a single plant or a group of plants.
STMG
Soluzione Tecnica Minima Generale, the grid connection offer issued by Terna or a distributor and accepted by the producer. See STMG and TICA explained.
Teaser
A short, anonymous summary of a project sent by email to compatible investors, with standard fields such as capacity, STMG cost and land terms.
Terna
The operator of the Italian high voltage transmission grid.
TICA
Testo Integrato Connessioni Attive, the rules governing connections of generating plants to the grid.
Turnkey
A plant bought once completed by the EPC contractor. See turnkey solar plants.
VIA
Valutazione di impatto ambientale, the environmental impact assessment required for some projects, possibly preceded by a screening procedure.
From terms to opportunities
The same terms structure your search on Pipeline.Solar. In the reserved area you choose stages (greenfield, RTB, brownfield, COD), the minimum and maximum capacity of the single plant, regions, technologies and structures such as share deal, asset deal or co-development. Teasers then arrive only for projects that fit. To start, request investor access or write on WhatsApp. Opportunities depend on the projects available at the time.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between RTB and COD?
RTB means the project can start construction; COD means the plant is built, connected and producing commercially.
Is DDS the same as a land lease?
Not exactly. The diritto di superficie is a real right under the Civil Code, distinct from a lease, and is commonly used for solar plants.
Which terms appear in the teaser?
Capacity, STMG cost, estimated days to connection, land under DDS or for sale with costs, development cost, PAS filed and PAS approved. Register to receive teasers.