From the new environmental criminal code to ETS benchmarks, from the REMIT node on wholesale prices to the deadlines of ETS2 and storage: the June issue gathers the measures that, in the coming weeks, will change the way those working in energy, environment, and industry operate.

There is a thread that connects this month's updates: the gap between the norm and practice is narrowing, and with it grows the responsibility of those who must apply these norms every day. This is clearly seen in the reform of environmental criminal protection, effective from June 2, 2026, which takes sustainability out of the ESG perimeter and into corporate criminal law: new crimes, the notion of "illegality" that cracks the authorization shield, and 231 Models to be revised without delay.

But the picture is broader. In Brussels, the Commission is redesigning the EU ETS benchmarks for 2026-2030 and preparing the allocation of free allowances; in Italy, the ARERA investigation on capacity withholding reopens the debate, worth five billion euros, between bidding strategies and REMIT obligations; ETS2 enters the operational phase, with the opening of accounts in the Union Registry and a window closing on September 15, 2026; Terna schedules the MACSE auction for new storage with delivery in 2029. Different deadlines, one message: reliable data, clear roles, and aligned documents are needed before a deadline becomes an urgency.

In this issue

• Environmental criminal protection – Legislative Decree 81/2026 redesigns crimes, aggravating factors, and entity responsibilities: what concretely changes for companies and 231 Models.
• EU ETS1 – new 2026-2030 benchmarks, 75% free allowances, and coverage of indirect emissions to boost industrial electrification.
• REMIT and capacity withholding – ARERA's investigation on the Day-Ahead Market and the open issue with the Capacity Market.
• ETS2 – opening of deposit accounts in the Union Registry: the window for already authorized Regulated Entities runs from June 1 to September 15, 2026.
• Storage – Terna's MACSE auction for new storage capacity with delivery in 2029: timing and participation methods.

As always, our goal is to read the norm alongside practice and translate it into sustainable choices on technical, legal, and economic levels.

To keep up with the change, contact us. info@enerleg.it · www.enerleg.it

Energy bill, the EU intervenes with “AccelerateEU”: yes to aid, but respecting ETS rules

With Communication COM(2026) 370 of 22 April 2026, the European Commission intervenes on the new energy volatility scenario outlining an emergency strategy that combines short-term price containment measures and acceleration of the energy transition in the medium-long term.

EU: certification methodologies defined for permanent carbon removals

With Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/285, adopted on 3 February 2026 and published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 17 April 2026, the European Commission takes a decisive step in implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3012, establishing for the first time the certification methodologies for permanent carbon removal activities provided by the European framework.

The measure defines technical and procedural criteria applicable to activities that, based on the current state of scientific knowledge and technological maturity, are considered suitable to ensure a solid and verifiable quantification of CO₂ removals. These include direct air capture of CO₂ with geological storage (DACCS), capture of biogenic emissions with geological storage (BioCCS), and biochar production with permanent carbon storage, achieved through soil application or incorporation of the material into products.

EUSALP Energy Award 2026

Energy transition in the Alps: from innovation to real impact

The 2026 edition of the award takes place under the theme "Energy transition in the Alps: from innovation to real impact". It honors measures, initiatives, and projects from a wide range of actors who significantly contribute to the energy transition in the electricity and heating sectors, making them pioneers of the energy transition applying innovative technical, social, or economic solutions.

ESG 2026: all the deadlines that are changing the game

2026 marks a decisive step for the European ESG agenda, with the entry into force of an integrated package of rules that directly impact governance, energy, supply chain, and operational processes. For companies, it is no longer about managing individual obligations but coordinating CSRD, CSDDD, EED, EUDR, PPWR, CBAM, and Pay Transparency in a unified logic. The main deadlines are concentrated within a few months.

Geothermal: new rules for closed-loop probes, easier to install plants

With the decree of 2 April 2026, the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security intervenes on the regulation of small local uses of geothermal heat, introducing an updated framework for closed-loop geothermal probe systems intended for building air conditioning. The measure is part of the simplification process started by Legislative Decree 190/2024 and aims to overcome the regulatory fragmentation that in recent years has slowed the spread of low-enthalpy geothermal energy. The goal is to promote faster and more uniform installations across the territory, while strengthening controls and traceability of the plants.

Hydrogen: EU green light to 6 billion for renewable production in Italy

The European Commission has approved an Italian scheme of 6 billion Euros to support renewable hydrogen production, aimed at the industry and transport sectors. The measure was authorized pursuant to Article 107(3)(c) TFEU and the State aid guidelines on climate, energy, and environment (CEEAG 2022).

The plan targets a production capacity of 200,000 tons per year, including both hydrogen from electrolysis powered by renewable sources and that obtained from biogenic sources.

Housing plan - public and social housing: the extraordinary national program of 970 million euros starts (DECREE-LAW 7 May 2026, no. 66)

Article 2 of the Decree establishes an extraordinary national program for the recovery and maintenance of the public residential and social housing stock, aimed urgently at expanding the affordable housing supply through the restoration of the remaining stock of dwellings currently unassignable due to maintenance deficiencies and the recovery of properties intended for social housing.

 

February 2026 brings important regulatory news in the fields of energy, climate and ecological transition. In this article we analyze the main European and national updates impacting companies, public administrations and energy sector operators.
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Energy, rules and tools to navigate a phase of rapid change. The Enerleg newsletter of March 2026 offers an updated overview of the main topics that are redefining the sector, with a perspective that combines the European level and the national framework.

At the opening, the focus is on energy communities, at the center of an initiative by the European Commission aimed at enhancing participatory management models capable of generating widespread benefits. A sign that confirms the increasingly important role of these experiences in building energy systems closer to the territories.

The newsletter then goes into the details of technical updates, with the new guidelines from the Customs and Monopolies Agency on the transmission of data related to natural gas, a step that directly affects operators and suppliers. On the European policy front, the Energy and Citizens package is featured, proposing measures to lighten the burden of bills, strengthen consumer protection, and promote access to more efficient technologies.

The focus then expands to national news, with the changes introduced by ARERA on supplier switching and the measures provided by the bill decree to support long-term contracts for renewable energy. A set of interventions that impacts market dynamics and business choices.

The result is a complex picture, in which rules, incentives, and operational tools intertwine with sustainability goals and the concrete needs of those operating in the sector. The newsletter aims to be a concise guide to understanding these developments and grasping their implications.

 

April 2026. Defined deadlines, updating regulations, operational choices requiring clarity. The new Enerleg newsletter enters this phase and offers an orderly reading of the topics impacting the daily work of companies and operators in the energy sector

The opening is dedicated to the PNRR and the GSE operational rules. The framework concerns biomethane, agrivoltaics and energy communities, with precise indications on timing. June 30, 2026 marks the deadline for the signing of concession agreements, while the commissioning of plants extends until 2027. A phase that requires attention in project management and investment planning

Following is the March 2026 fiscal decree, which expands the choice possibilities for capital goods for companies, and the ANAC resolution introducing standard models for declarations related to assignments and responsibilities. An intervention impacting transparency and directly linked to the development of energy communities, where governance quality plays a central role

The focus then shifts to Europe with the report of energy regulators. The work concentrates on the implementation of reforms and consumer involvement. Active participation enters the functioning of energy systems, while the weight of network costs on bills grows, with concrete effects on families and companies

An in-depth analysis concerns emission measurement. Companies face technical standards and skills required to build reliable inventories. The topic fits into a context marked by new obligations and growing attention from investors and stakeholders

The closing recalls the national framework with data on the state of the environment. Emissions show a long-term reduction, while the pace remains far from European targets. Energy and transport continue to have a significant impact, with the need to accelerate on renewables and efficiency.