Energy Release 2.0: New rules for access to renewable energy at controlled prices are now operational.
Energy Release 2.0 offers renewable energy at €65/MWh to energy-intensive companies, obliging them to build new RES capacity.
The Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security has approved the operating rules for the Energy Release 2.0 mechanism, a tool designed to support energy-intensive businesses through early access to renewable energy at a fixed price. This measure aims to stabilize electricity costs and, at the same time, accelerate the construction of new renewable energy plants.
Renewable energy at €65/MWh for energy-intensive companies
With the entry into force of the new operating framework, energy-intensive companies – even in aggregate form – can request the advance supply of renewable electricity at a set price of €65/MWh , for a three-year period .
The mechanism requires that the energy supplied by GSE comes from already incentivized renewable plants , allowing companies to immediately benefit from a stable tariff, independent of fluctuations in the electricity market.
To access the program, companies commit to building new generation capacity from renewable sources, guaranteeing long-term production at least double the anticipated energy . This commitment transforms the immediate benefit into a driver for the growth of national renewable generation.
Timelines, requirements and opportunities for the plant engineering sector
The new rules define clear timeframes: new plants must enter into operation within 36–40 months of signing the contract , with a maximum deadline set at 31 December 2030. Eligible solutions include photovoltaic , wind and hydroelectric , with a minimum power of 200 kW .
The GSE will publish a public tender procedure to select the operators responsible for building the energy return plants.
For the HVAC/R industry, these timeframes represent a strategic opportunity:
- for designers and installers operating in the energy-intensive industrial sector,
- for those developing hybrid systems or integrated renewable energy solutions,
- for EPCs and companies specialized in the turnkey construction of complex energy systems.
Access to affordable renewable energy can support the energy planning of production sites, helping to reduce operating costs and implement new efficiency measures.
A measure that combines competitiveness and energy transition
Energy Release 2.0 was created with a dual objective : to support the competitiveness of electricity-intensive companies and accelerate the development of new renewable capacity.
The mechanism, structured on multi-year contracts with predefined conditions, allows companies to plan their investments with greater certainty, integrating renewable energy production with the energy needs of industrial processes.
For HVAC/R and energy system operators, this measure offers significant scope for intervention: from preliminary consumption analysis to the design of new renewable energy systems, up to integration with air conditioning systems, heat pumps, industrial ventilation, and energy recovery solutions.
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