Conto Termico 3.0, that will come into force on December 25, 2025, is Italy’s national incentive mechanism for small-scale interventions aimed at increasing energy efficiency in buildings and producing thermal energy from renewable sources. GSE will publish application rules and update the platform for submitting applications within 60 days of the MASE Decree’s entry into force.
Who can access the incentives
Applications can be submitted by public administrations, their consortia, public economic entities, housing cooperatives, in-house companies, and third sector entities. Regarding private entities, they can access for interventions on tertiary sector buildings (offices, shops, restaurants, hotels) and, only for renewable thermal energy interventions, also for residential buildings (homes, condominiums).
Access methods: direct or with reservation
There are two alternative access methods: direct access, with applications to be submitted within 90 days of intervention completion, and reservation (reserved for public administrations), which allows transmission to GSE of a preliminary application form. For private companies, a preliminary request is mandatory before starting work. A simplified procedure is provided for interventions up to 35 kW or 50 square meters of solar panels, through the GSE domestic appliances catalog.
Eligible interventions for energy efficiency (Title II)
Incentivized interventions on existing buildings with climate control systems include: thermal insulation of opaque surfaces, replacement of fixtures and transparent closures, installation of solar shading systems, transformation into nearly zero-energy buildings, replacement of lighting systems, building automation, installation of electric vehicle charging stations and photovoltaic systems (the latter two only when combined with electric heat pumps).
Renewable thermal energy interventions (Title III)
Incentivized interventions include replacement of existing winter climate control systems with: electric or gas heat pumps, hybrid or bivalent systems, biomass-fueled generators, solar thermal systems, heat pump water heaters, connection to efficient district heating, and micro-cogeneration from renewable sources. Interventions can also cover greenhouse heating, rural buildings, production processes, swimming pools and wellness centers.
Specific requirements for companies
For companies, energy efficiency interventions must ensure a reduction in primary energy demand of at least 10% (20% for multi-intervention) certified through EPC. Equipment powered by fossil fuels, including natural gas, is not eligible. Agricultural and forestry companies can also benefit from new installation of biomass systems for greenhouses and rural buildings.
Grant amount and incentive intensity
The grant is non-repayable up to 65% of expenses incurred. For public buildings in municipalities up to 15,000 inhabitants, school buildings and public health facilities, the incentive reaches 100% of eligible expenses. For private companies, intensity is limited to 25% (30% for multi-intervention) for energy efficiency and 45% for renewable thermal, with increases for small and medium enterprises, interventions in Southern Italy and significant performance improvements. The maximum limit is 30 million euros per single company and intervention.
Payment methods
For private entities, if the total incentive is up to 15,000 euros, payment is made in a single installment. Above this threshold, payment is split into constant annual installments for a duration of 2 to 5 years depending on intervention type and size. Public administrations opting for reservation can request advances, intermediate installments and balance, while in direct access they receive the incentive in a single payment.
Cumulability and constraints
Incentives are recognized only for interventions not benefiting from other state incentives, except guarantee funds, revolving funds and interest subsidies. For public buildings, incentives can be cumulated up to 100% of eligible expenses. Interventions must maintain requirements for 5 years after the last payment installment. Access is possible through ESCOs or energy communities.
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