Energy Release 2.0 - A complete analysis | Update - February 2026

Development of new capacity for energy-intensive end customers in line with European State aid rules

In brief

By Directorial Decree No. 104 of 17 December 2025, the Ministry of the Environment and Economic Development ('MASE') recently updated the Operating Rules of the incentive mechanism known as 'Energy Release 2.0', introduced pursuant to Article 1, paragraph 2, of Decree-Law No. 181 of 9 December 2023, converted, with amendments, by Law No. 11 of 2 February 2024, and Decree No. 268 of 23 July 2024 of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, as amended by Decree No. 204 of 29 July 2025 of the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security (known as DM Energy Release 2.0).

It should be noted that the update of the Operating Rules was necessary following the transmission by the European Commission, on 27 June 2025, of a comfort letter in which the Commission requested the Italian government to implement substantial changes to the mechanism in order to align it with European state aid rules in force.

DM Energy Release 2.0 regulates the mechanism by which energy-intensive end customers can contribute to the creation of new electricity generation capacity from renewable sources, initially using a procedure for the anticipation of the supply of electricity in the availability of the Gestore dei Servizi Energetici S.p.A. ('GSE'), and then proceeding to return it once the new electricity capacity has been completed.

By note published on 3 February 2026, the GSE announced that, following the conclusion on 31 January 2026 of the period for the execution of the Contract in relation to energy allocated under the “Energy Release 2.0” mechanism, 476 contracts were signed by energy-intensive end customers/aggregators and an energy volume of 22.5 TWh was allocated.

In this regard, please note that from 16 February to 9 March 2026, the Addendum to the contract for delegation can be signed using the specific tool available on the E-RELEASE Portal.

The deadline for submitting expressions of interest under the 'call for tenders for the allocation of electricity available to the GSE - pursuant to Ministerial Decree No. 268 of 23 July 2024 (known as Energy Release 2.0)' issued by GSE expired on 3^rd March 2025. 

Please read the alert written by our professionals, Pierpaolo Mastromarini and Gloria Bernardini, at the following link.