Photovoltaic: The GSE


The incentive is paid by GSE (Energy Services Company) and not by ENEL (Italian National Electricity Board)
The Gestore dei Servizi Energetici - GSE Ltd plays a central role in the promotion and incentive for the development of the renewable sources in Italy.
The sole shareholder of GSE is the Ministry of Economy and Finance that wields the shareholder’s rights with the Ministry of Economic Development.
The GSE is the parent company of the subsidiary companies AU - Acquirente Unico S.p.A.” (Sole Buyer), GME “Gestore dei Mercati Energetici S.p.A.” (Energy Markets Company) and of RSE “Ricerca Sistema Energetico S.p.a (Research on Energy Systems)
The main activities of the GSE consist in granting to users the economic support that is guaranteed by the national regulations for electricity generation from renewable energy sources.
In fact the use of those sources, without any support, is still generally, too expensive to allow it to spread.
In particular the GSE:

  • qualifies the Renewable Energy Sources RES-E (“it. IAFR”) plants;
  • qualifies the combined heat and power (CHP) plants;
  • issues Green Certificates (“CV”) and monitoring producers’ and importers’ compliance with the related obligations;
  • issuing the Guarantee of Origin (GO) of electricity generated by RES or high-efficiency (CHP) plants;
  • as implementing body, runs the support schemes for electricity generation by photovoltaic and thermodynamic solar plants;
  • market trading of electricity generated by plants using RES or other eligible sources (“CIP-6”);
  • market trading of electricity generated by producers who have opted for an indirect sale arrangement through GSE, instead of direct sale in the market;
  • market trading of electricity generated by new RES plants of up to 1,000 kW (200 kW for wind plants) whose owners have opted for the all-inclusive feed-in tariff;
  • runs the net metering service for electricity generated by RES plants of up to 200 kW or high-efficiency CHP plants (since 1st of January 2009)

GSE has gained national and global recognition as a leading player in the implementation of Italian energy policies, thanks to its growing commitment to promoting RES in the national context and by participating in international seminars, workshops and organizations. To date, GSE has played an active role within OME (Observatoire Méditerranéen de l'Énergie), IEA (International Energy Agency) and AIB (Association of Issuing Bodies). Together with the last one GSE issues the RECS certificates (Renewable Energy Certificate System)