Italy’s PNRR-PNIEC Technical Commission issued 308 environmental impact assessment (VIA) opinions for renewable energy projects between January and August 2026, covering around 19.5 GW of capacity and more than €36 billion in investment, according to the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE).

The number of VIA opinions issued during the first eight months of 2026 increased by more than 40% compared with the same period in 2025, as the Italian government accelerates environmental assessment procedures for renewable energy projects.

During the same period, MASE issued 193 VIA decrees for renewable energy projects, covering almost 10 GW of capacity and €10 billion in investment. The ministry said this figure was broadly in line with the results recorded during the same period of 2025.

Since 2021, the PNRR-PNIEC Technical Commission has issued opinions covering more than 67 GW of renewable energy projects, representing more than €82 billion in investment.

Of this total, projects representing 39 GW have received a concordant opinion from the Ministry of Culture (MIC), allowing MASE to complete the process and issue the corresponding decrees. A further 24 GW of projects remains under consideration by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Culture.

The remaining 4 GW is currently in the final assessment phase at MASE, involving analysis of the opinions issued and checks on the suitability of the project areas in coordination with the Ministry of Culture.

According to MASE, the acceleration in environmental assessments is linked to the reorganisation of the PNRR-PNIEC and VIA-VAS technical commissions, the optimisation and digitalisation of procedures, and the work of the commissions and the ministry’s Directorate General for Environmental Assessments.

Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto said the figures show that Italy has “changed pace” in environmental assessments, pointing to a system that is now more organised and digitalised.

VIA-VAS Commission issues 380 opinions

The acceleration also extends to the VIA-VAS Commission, which assesses environmental impacts for strategic infrastructure projects, including infrastructure needed for the energy transition.

Between January and August 2026, the commission issued around 380 opinions, including environmental impact assessments, compliance checks and procedures to determine whether projects are subject to VIA. The opinions covered projects with a total value of approximately €27 billion, representing a 40% increase compared with the same period of 2025.

Since 2021, the VIA-VAS Commission has issued VIA and VIA screening opinions covering infrastructure projects with a total value of more than €123 billion, according to MASE.

According to the minister, the acceleration “does not mean reducing safeguards, but making the way the State exercises its responsibilities more efficient. Our goal is to bring together the environment, the quality of assessments and certainty over timelines. A country that wants to grow and develop energy, industrial and strategic infrastructure must be able to make decisions. And it must do so with clear rules, defined timelines and full respect for the environment.”