2024 Photovoltaic Bonuses and Incentives: a beginner's guide

Even if 2024 is coming to an end, with an increasingly growing commitment to sustainability, it continues to offer a wide range of bonuses and incentives for the installation of photovoltaic systems in Italy, both nationally and locally, of which not everyone is aware.

These incentives aim to make solar energy more accessible, so that even ordinary families and small businesses can be facilitated in the transition to more renewable energy sources.

And to meet the general public, Gridshare has decided to draw up a simple guide on photovoltaic that collects analysis of the main regulations, regulations and access requirements to take advantage of the tax benefits provided for this year (and not only).

Before starting, if you are on this page we recommend that you read our Guide to photovoltaics and everything you need to know.

Regulations and Regulations

For 2024 we can only talk about Restructuring Bonus, one of the biggest and most advantageous tax incentives of the year.

Regulated by article 16-bis of Presidential Decree 917/86 (Consolidated Income Tax Act, also called TUIR), before 2024, the bonus allowed an IRPEF deduction equal to 36% of the expenses incurred, divided into 10 annual installments of the same amount, with a maximum limit of 48,000 euros for each real estate unit.

However, with further measures, all the restructuring expenses determined by law incurred between 26 June 2012 and 31 December 2024, 50% of the expenses for the purchase and installation of the plant can be deducted, up to a maximum of 96,000 euros.

Also in this case, savings can be divided into 10 annual installments and all taxpayers, resident or not in Italy, can purchase them.

In addition to the Restructuring Bonus, other national benefits include:

• Reduced VAT at 10%: for the purchase and installation of photovoltaic systems and storage systems, instead of the standard rate of 22%.

• Personal income tax deduction for energy efficiency interventions: also available for those who install storage batteries together with solar panels, promoting self-consumption.

Restructuring Bonus Deadlines (over 2024)

It is important to emphasize that some deductions will be gradually reduced starting from 2025, although they will remain in force.

Taking the Restructuring Bonus as an example, the expected deduction will fall to 36%, with a maximum spending limit reduced to 48,000 euros, starting from January 1, 2025.

After that, there will be a further drop to 30% expected in 2028.

Therefore, those who wish to take advantage of the 50% deduction should therefore plan their work by 2024. However, you don't want to untangle yourself between bonuses and other paperwork, Gridshare comes to your rescue: click here to find out how.

Local and National Photovoltaic Bonuses and Incentives

In addition to incentives at national level, there are as many different laws as there are (more or less) the Italian regions.

In fact, each territory provides specific benefits for residents.

Examples are Basilicata and Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Basilicata Photovoltaic Bonus

With the official bulletin 12/BIS of 22 March 2024, Basilicata declared that it granted 39 million euros in non-repayable funds for the installation of renewable energy plants. The financial coverage, spread over two years (15 million for 2024 and 24 million for 2025), meets the following criteria:

• Recipients: individuals and condominiums (including usufructaries) who have their residence in the region

• Contribution: up to 40% for the purchase and installation of photovoltaic systems (with a peak power of not less than 3kW and with a tolerance of 5%) and storage batteries, with a maximum ceiling of 18,000 euros.

• deadline: the call remains active until December 31, 2024, subject to the exhaustion of funds.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia Photovoltaic Bonus

Already with the regional law of 9 February 2023, no. 1, the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region had authorized the allocation of 190 million euros to be divided into the 2023 and 2024 financial statements. With a further adjustment law, no. 7/2024 of August 7 of this year — the 90 million funds planned for the current year have been increased to 115 million. In doing so, the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region was among the first reasons to have allocated the largest number of funds in the last two years — with a total of 215 million euros in total.

The criteria, of course, are stricter and the calls offered meet specific criteria, including:

• Contribution: coverage of 40% of expenses for photovoltaic systems and storage systems, after the interventions have been completed.

• Maximum amount: up to 3,000 euros for each kW of plant capacity and up to 1,130 euros for each kWh of storage capacity.

• deadline: until November 2024 or funds run out.

The advantage of these regional bonuses is that they can often be combined with a tax deduction of 50% of the national bonus, bringing the total savings up to 90% of the initial expenditure for those who reside in these regions.

What about the superbonus? It's still there, but reduced!

The superbonus is still there, but at a reduced rate compared to previous years. Initially introduced as a 110% incentive to promote energy upgrading interventions, with the 2023 Budget Law, the Meloni Government has progressively reduced concessions.

In 2023, the rate had already fallen to 90%, while for 2024 it was set at 70%, with a further reduction expected to 65% in 2025. Even photovoltaic can benefit from these benefits, but only as a “driven intervention”, therefore in combination with main works such as thermal insulation or the replacement of air conditioning systems.

Requirements to access the Photovoltaic Bonus

In order to take advantage of the photovoltaic bonus and local or national incentives, it is essential to comply with specific requirements:

• Personal income tax payers: bonuses are reserved for personal income tax payers, such as property owners, usufructuaries, sole owners, borrowers and tenants.

• Ownership of the purchase: the applicant must be the holder of the invoices for the supply and installation of the system and must personally bear the expense.

• Type of intervention: the installation of photovoltaic must concern residential buildings, including condominiums, and is valid both for the first home and for secondary homes.

• Payment methods: payments must be made by talking bank transfer, which allows traceability and specifically indicates the relevant legislation, the tax code of the beneficiary and that of the supplier.

It is important to emphasize that the concession can also be requested for installation interventions on common parts of condominiums, provided that the tax code of the condominium and the administrator are indicated in the documents.

Documents Required for the Bonus

To access the photovoltaic benefits, it is essential to prepare and transmit within 90 days from the end of the work a series of documents that certify the compliance of the intervention:

1. Talking transfer: it must include the reason for payment with an indication of the relevant legislation, the applicant's tax code and that of the company carrying out the installation.

2. Energy Performance Certificate (APE): it is required for many energy efficiency interventions and must be issued by a qualified technician.

3. Technical data sheet and description of the system: these documents must describe the characteristics of the plant and its compliance with current regulations.

4. Declaration of work compliancei: provided by the installer, certifies that the system meets the requirements for access to the bonus and the appropriateness of expenses.

In the case of work on common condominium parts, you also need the tax code of the condominium and of the administrator who made the payment.

The Future: Energy Communities and the FER-X Decree

Renewable Energy Communities (CERs) are one of the most promising innovations for the future of energy production and sharing in Italy.

Recognized by Legislative Decree 199/2021, these communities are a group of participants from the broadest social categories (municipal administrations, private citizens, small and medium-sized enterprises, research institutions, etc...) who share an ideal: to support the planet with renewable energy.

How?

With the sharing.

The members of CERs, in fact, are both producers and consumers from the same geographical perimeter.

Thanks to the use of the national electricity distribution network, they can produce, self-consume and share renewable energy, such as solar energy, through a distributed self-consumption network.

Advantages of CERs:

• Economic Incentives: CERs members can obtain an incentive rate on the consumption of renewable energy recognized by GSE (Energy Services Manager — an Italian public limited company wholly owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance). The figure is between €60 and €120 per MWh. For photovoltaic plants, on the other hand, there is a majority of up to €10/MWh, based on the geographical location of the plant.

• FERX Funds: through the FERX Fund, CERs can obtain economic support to install energy plants and infrastructures. Access to these benefits varies depending on the size of the plant you want to build. If the electrical power is less than 1 MW, up to a maximum limit of 10 GW, then direct funds are provided with a fixed rate of €93/MWh. If the defined value of 1 MW is exceeded, then it will be necessary to participate in downward tenders that will be banned until the end of 2028 and that will allow their own suppliers to enter the national electricity market.

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How to join: Registering for a CER is simple. It is enough to fill out an application form and present an identity document and a recent bill. In many cases, it is possible to revoke membership without penalty.

Energy communities therefore represent a key resource for those who want to obtain an economic return from the energy produced and shared.

And thanks to the support of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), these solutions will become increasingly widespread.

2024, therefore, is a crucial year for those who want to install a photovoltaic system and access the available incentives.

From national bonuses to local concessions, there are many opportunities to reduce installation costs and offer a great advantage to families and businesses that want to invest in sustainable energy.

Don't forget to gather all the required documentation and check the requirements for each incentive.

Planning your plant by 2024 allows you to make the most of your tax advantages and to contribute to the energy transition to a greener Italy.

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