Italy Awards 7.7 GW Solar Capacity in Largest-Ever FER X Auction

• Italy’s new FER X program allocates 7.7 GW of photovoltaic capacity at competitive tariffs, boosting EU solar momentum.

Europe’s solar landscape continues to shift as Italy wrapped up its first auction under the new FER X incentive scheme — awarding a massive 7.7 GW of photovoltaic capacity across 474 projects. The average awarded price: just €0.05682/kWh, about 37% below the auction ceiling.

Of the initial 1,387 submitted proposals, the selection reflects a growing appetite for large-scale PV deployment and renewed investor confidence in Europe’s clean-energy sector. The auction also allocated 940 MW of wind capacity, underlining Italy’s commitment to a diversified renewable mix.

Experts say the low tariffs and high capacity awarded signal that solar — once an expensive, niche alternative — is becoming mainstream electricity infrastructure. With falling equipment prices, economies of scale and supportive regulation, solar power is increasingly cost-competitive with fossil fuels. 

For Italy and the broader EU, this outcome may serve as a blueprint for future auctions — showing that renewables can secure large-scale deployment while maintaining affordability. The scale of the awarded capacity could also accelerate grid modernization and storage integration across the region.