Grants for the installation of photovoltaic systems – ERDF Notice No. 2/2022

ERDF grants to support businesses investing in the installation of photovoltaic systems, combined with energy storage systems, with the aim of increasing production from renewable sources.

Eligible initiatives

A business may apply for the grant, either under the exemption scheme or the de minimis scheme, as follows:

1. for applications ofany amount, under the exemption scheme, for the following initiatives:
a) the supply and installation of new photovoltaic systems with a peak power (P) of between 15 kW and 1,000 kW
In addition:
b) a storage system with a maximum eligible expenditure of €800/kWh
c) technical costs relating to the project in question (design, project management, consultancy, testing, etc.) up to a limit of 10 per cent of the total eligible costs for carrying out the project

2. for applicationswhere the eligible expenditure exceeds 200,000 euros, under the de minimis rules, for the following initiatives:
a) the supply and installation of new photovoltaic systems with a peak power (P) ranging from 15 kW to 1,000 kW
In addition:
b) energy storage systems with a maximum eligible cost of €800 per kWh
c) removal and disposal of asbestos-cement roofing, up to a limit of €20 per square metre
d) technical costs relating to the project in question (design, site supervision, consultancy, testing, etc.) up to a limit of 10 per cent of the total eligible expenditure for carrying out the project
e) charging points for electric vehicles

Grant scheme

The grant that the enterprise may receive is:

• for applications of any amount, under the exemption scheme, the grant rate oneligible expenditure, based on the size of the enterprise, is as follows:
  • SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMEs): 40%
  • LARGE ENTERPRISE: 30%
• For applications where the eligible expenditure exceeds €200,000, under the de minimis scheme, the grant rate oneligible expenditureis as follows:
  • 40%

From 7 February 2024, the de minimis grant is awarded in accordance with the new Regulation 2023/2831. Until 30 June 2024, the grant may be awarded under the previous Regulation 1407/2014, as amended, only if this is more favourable to the applicant in terms of the aid ceiling.

For further information and contact details for assistance, please refer to the FAQ page

 ERDF Photovoltaic Call for Proposals – FAQs

Specific rules apply to the accounting, traceability, payment and reporting of expenses incurred. Please refer to Annex 4 of the Notice for further details on these matters (LINK TO THE NOTICE).

In return for the grant received, the company must also comply with a number of obligations, including:

• comply with the deadlines for the commencement, implementation, completion and reporting of the initiative eligible for the grant;
• not to dispose of, transfer or otherwise divert the assets covered by the grant from their intended purpose until the initiative has been completed and for the following 5 years.

Further conditions are set out in Annexes 5 and 6 of the Notice (LINK TO THE NOTICE) which refer to further obligations on beneficiaries as well as the information, monitoring and publicity requirements relating to the funded projects.

A summary ofthemaincommunication requirementsapplicable to beneficiaries of the 2021–2027 ERDF Programme calls for proposals can be found atthefollowinglink.

Small, medium and large enterprises, defined as:

• companies, network contracts and consortia with external activities, registered in the Register of Companies and with their registered office and place of business within the Province of Trento, or with an operational unit active within the province;
• companies, network contracts and consortia carrying out external activities, with their registered office and place of business outside the Province of Trento, but with an operational unit active within the province prior to the disbursement of the aid

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the grant, the enterprise must:

• have one of the ATECO codes listed in Annex 8 of the Notice ‘List of ATECO codes’ (LINK TO THE NOTICE);
• have an energy audit carried out in accordance with UNI CEI EN 16247, drawn up by a qualified technician registered with the professional register, certified as complying with the minimum criteria set out in that technical standard, and capable of identifying opportunities for energy efficiency improvements and/or savings and/or the reduction of climate-changing emissions in relation to the installation of photovoltaic panels;
• undertake to remove any asbestos-cement roofing;
• not be in liquidation (including voluntary liquidation);
• not be an undertaking in difficulty, in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 651/2014;
• not to be one of the enterprises listed in Annex 9 (see the provisions of Provincial Council Resolution No. 982/2023).

Assessment criteria

Applications for grants will be assessed on a first-come, first-served basis.

The criteria used to assess eligibility for the grant are: general formal eligibility criteria, general substantive eligibility criteria, specific substantive eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria and bonus criteria.

The application may be submitted by:

• The company’s legal representative
• An authorised representative

Application submission and deadlines

To apply for the grant, the business must submit an application via the online platform.

To submit an application, you must have a Public Digital Identity System (SPID) account.

• an energy audit in accordance with UNI CEI EN 16247, drawn up by a qualified technician registered with the professional register (mandatory attachment)
• a declaration by a qualified technician registered with the professional register confirming that the energy audit complies with the minimum criteria set out in UNI CEI EN 16247 (mandatory attachment)

For any further documentation that may be required, please refer to the Notice (LINK TO THE NOTICE).

Investment reporting

Reporting on the subsidised initiative must be carried out via the IT platform by accessing the SI-FESR platform under ‘Digital Channels’ via the‘Access the SI-FESR Trento portal’ button. To complete the report, please refer to the Manual for the online completion of the REPORTING for ERDF Notice No. 2/2022 – SI-FESR Platform, available in the ‘Documents’ section at the bottom of this page.

The following documentation is required to report on the subsidised investment: 

• an uncertified copy of the invoices or equivalent documents, showing the CUP or the identification code provided in the appropriate field;
• a simple copy of the bank transfer slips, showing the number and date of the invoice being paid;
• a copy of the F24 form (if applicable), showing payment has been made;
• documentation certifying a legally binding commitment to carry out the investment (e.g. order confirmations, contracts), only in the case of a subsidy under the exemption scheme;
• a final summary report on the works, signed by a qualified technician registered with the professional register, in accordance with the template;
• a simple copy of any declaration of commencement of works submitted to the local council;
• an uncertified copy of any declaration of completion of works submitted to the local authority;
• where applicable, the memorandum of association of the Renewable Energy Community (CER), as provided for in Article 31 of Legislative Decree 199/2021;
• where applicable, a declaration by a qualified technician registered with the professional register certifying full utilisation of the roof area and/or its unsuitability for such use, only in the case of installation of the photovoltaic system on façades and appurtenances and provided it was not attached when the application was submitted.

The documentation to be attached may be digitally signed. Alternatively, it may be signed by hand, provided a copy of the identity document is attached.

This service is available for REPORTING purposes only. It is no longer possible to submit an application.