Private Renewable Energy Community in Lazio Launches Major Expansion, Adding 1 MW of Solar Capacity

• Expansion is forecast to generate 1,500 MWh of clean, renewable electricity annually, increasing savings for the community’s members and improving energy independence

Sept 15^th 2025 – CER Civita Castellana Solare in Lazio, believed to be Italy’s first fully private renewable energy community (REC), is entering a critical expansion phase with the commissioning of a new 1 MW ground-mounted solar system. The 1,612-panel installation is expected to generate approximately 1,500 MWh of clean energy annually- boosting savings for community members while also further enhancing local energy independence.

Founded in 2021 by local solar installer Ecocirioni Srl, CER Civita Castellana Solare is one of a growing number of RECs in Italy that enable homeowners and businesses to come together to produce, share and use renewable energy locally. Through this model, members with solar systems contribute surplus electricity to the community. In 2024, Italy introduced a premium tariff scheme to incentivize the growth of RECs. This scheme provides an additional payment on top of the market price for electricity generated and sold by RECs, enabling them to earn enhanced revenues. The profits from these sales are then pooled and partially redistributed among members to lower their energy bills, while the remainder is reinvested in future projects, infrastructure upgrades, and the community’s long-term growth.

By mid-2025, CER Civita Castellana Solare had 64 members. These included 48 homeowners and businesses with rooftop solar contributing a combined 300,474 kWh of annual energy production, and 16 consumer-only members- residents and enterprises who do not have solar systems but receive a portion of the profits from the consumption of the energy shared within the CER. On average, each member saves between 15–20% on their energy bills. For solar owners, these savings are in addition to the reductions already achieved through self-consumption. For consumer-only members, the REC offers a simple and affordable way to access low-cost renewable energy while actively participating in the clean energy transition.

The new 1 MW solar installation, funded using profits from the existing REC, represents a significant leap in the community’s production capacity. Paired with a 2 MWh battery storage system, it will also enable stored solar energy to be used during evening hours or low-sunlight conditions, boosting self-consumption and improving the community’s energy independence. 

“With the commissioning of the 1 MW plant, we are taking a further, decisive step toward realising a truly efficient and sustainable energy community,” says Roberto Cirioni, CEO of Ecocirioni Srl. “This new installation builds on the REC’s success to date and reflects our long-term vision: to empower local citizens and businesses with clean, affordable, and locally produced energy.”

A key factor behind CER Civita Castellana Solare's success is the use of SolarEdge DC-optimized inverter technology throughout the solar community. In a SolarEdge system, Power Optimizers are installed beneath solar panels to maximise panel production. This ensures that when panels are affected by mismatch losses, from manufacturing tolerance, partial shading or aging, the rest of the system continues to operate at peak efficiency. The SolarEdge system also improves design flexibility by removing traditional constraints on panel orientation and string length. This enables optimal layout on diverse rooftops and helps maximise energy output across the entire system.

Another important factor is production visibility. The SolarEdge system’s ability to monitor system performance at the panel level is essential for a growing energy community like CER Civita Castellana Solare to make informed decisions about energy use. Since energy production must be carefully managed to balance supply and demand, this visibility helps ensure stability and efficiency. Equally important is the system’s advanced safety features, including SafeDC™, which automatically reduces voltage in the solar arrays to touch-safe levels within minutes, enabling safe access for maintenance crews and emergency responders.

“The combination of rooftop solar, community-based sharing, and advanced technology enables our members to access locally generated, low-cost renewable electricity,” says Roberto Cirioni. “Currently, they are saving an extra 15–20% on their annual energy bills. However, we expect these savings to increase as capacity expands with the addition of the 1 MW plant.”