Voltalia wins 68-MW of solar in Italy’s FER-X tender

• France’s Voltalia secures 68 MW of Italian solar under FER-X, Italy’s new auction design aligned with the EU’s NZIA criteria.

Voltalia has joined the winners’ circle in Italy’s FER-X auction, bagging contracts for 68 MW of solar. The scheme applies NZIA-style criteria that reward secure, traceable supply chains and resilient European manufacturing, shifting evaluation beyond pure price. Developers say the new rules add complexity but also clarity—especially for lenders who see lower policy risk in diversified sourcing. 

Price signals were unsurprising: clearing levels sat above prior, origin-agnostic tenders, acknowledging higher capex for non-Chinese supply. Yet the design may pay off via smoother delivery and fewer shipment hiccups. Voltalia’s projects are expected to use high-efficiency modules on trackers with plant controllers tuned to Italian grid-code requirements.

The take-home: Italy is turning industrial policy into megawatts. If execution proves timely, FER-X could become the model for other EU states seeking to balance rapid deployment with strategic autonomy. For now, the pipeline is real and growing—another tranche of bankable PV headed for the Italian grid.