Italy Plans 10 GW Solar Boost in 2026-2027 Auctions

Italy just announced one of Europe's most ambitious solar expansion plans, setting the stage to power millions more homes with clean energy by 2028.

The Italian energy agency GSE revealed that upcoming renewable energy auctions in 2026 and 2027 will allocate 10 gigawatts of solar capacity alongside 16 gigawatts of wind power. GSE CEO Vinicio Mosè Vigilante confirmed that one auction will happen by year's end, with two more following in 2027.

The momentum is already building. Italy's first major solar auction in December attracted 1,387 project proposals totaling over 17 gigawatts of capacity. That's more than double what the auction could award, showing developers are racing to meet Italy's renewable energy goals.

Of those proposals, 474 solar projects won spots, securing 7.7 gigawatts of new capacity. The average winning price came in 37% below the government's ceiling, meaning solar power is getting cheaper faster than officials expected.

A second auction earlier this year made history as Italy's first to implement new European Union manufacturing standards. The country excluded Chinese solar panels and inverters from projects larger than 1 megawatt, supporting European manufacturers while still keeping costs reasonable.

That auction awarded 1.1 gigawatts across 88 projects. Even with the stricter equipment requirements, prices only rose by one cent per kilowatt hour compared to the first auction.

The Ripple Effect

These auctions signal a major shift in how Europe approaches energy independence. By favoring European manufacturers while maintaining competitive prices, Italy is proving that countries can build resilient supply chains without sacrificing affordability.

The competitive pricing tells another important story. Solar energy in Italy now costs less than 7 cents per kilowatt hour, making it one of the cheapest electricity sources available. That means lower energy bills for Italian families and businesses once these projects go live.

With 10 gigawatts of new solar on the horizon, Italy is adding enough clean energy capacity to power roughly 5 million homes. These projects will create thousands of construction jobs and establish long term positions for maintenance and operations.

Italy's success is inspiring neighboring countries to accelerate their own renewable transitions, creating a wave of clean energy investment across Southern Europe.