Italy's MACSE spotlights BESS asset management demands

TL;DR

MACSE Auction: Italy's Terna awarded 10GWh of battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity in its first MACSE auction, concluded in September 2025.[[1]](https://www.energy-storage.news/italy-macse-future-bess-asset-management-europe-enel-greenvolt-ion-bw-ess/)[[2]](https://www.energy-storage.news/italy-macse-future-bess-asset-management-europe-enel-greenvolt-ion-bw-ess)
Enel Dominates: Enel secured over half at 5.2GWh across five projects, with ACL at 2.1GWh and Greenvolt at 499MWh.[[1]](https://www.energy-storage.news/italy-macse-future-bess-asset-management-europe-enel-greenvolt-ion-bw-ess/)[[3]](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lars-stephan_italys-first-macse-auction-results-activity-7379416799856975872-DCj7)
Management Demands: Strict rules on availability and performance require advanced 24/7 monitoring and revenue stacking to avoid penalties.[[1]](https://www.energy-storage.news/italy-macse-future-bess-asset-management-europe-enel-greenvolt-ion-bw-ess/)

The story at a glance

Italy's transmission system operator Terna ran its first MACSE auction for long-term BESS capacity procurement, awarding 10GWh under 15-year contracts to winners including Enel, ACL Energy, Greenvolt Power, BW ESS, Ze Energy, Whysol, Eni Plenitude, and Natpower. The article examines how low bid prices and rigorous operational rules—like penalties for low availability, round-trip efficiency, and degradation—raise the bar for BESS asset management. It's reported now ahead of the Battery Asset Management Summit Europe 2025 in Rome.

Key points

Enel Green Power won 5.2GWh across five projects in Calabria south and centre-south, the largest share.
Total awarded: 1,491MW power and nearly 10GWh energy capacity, averaging 6.6 hours duration (one project later withdrawn).
Contracts start in 2028; future MACSE auctions aim for around 50GWh total procurement by Terna.
Rules demand high performance, with Terna imposing penalties that leave "no room for availability dips."
Winners like Greenvolt bid all capacity into MACSE only; others plan revenue stacking via MSD and Fast Reserve markets.
Europe-wide trends include AI optimisation, lifecycle management, and shifts to performance-linked contracts.

Details and context

The MACSE (Meccanismo di Approvvigionamento di Capacità di Stoccaggio Elettrico) scheme targets standalone BESS to bolster grid flexibility amid renewables growth. Bids were exceptionally competitive, driving prices to Europe's lowest levels and sparking margin concerns, though executives call conditions "clear" rather than overly strict.

Winners must maintain near-flawless operations via 24/7 monitoring and KPI tracking. Asset managers like Ion Ventures stress advanced forecasting and degradation mitigation; optimisers such as Ego Energy and Suena highlight AI's role in Italy's standardised Terna metrics.

Enel, state-backed and already dominant in Italy's storage, continues expanding, including hybrid projects like Lily in Texas. The auction reflects maturing markets where developers bear most risks, but expect more revenue-sharing with EPCs and OEMs.

Key quotes

“It’s not necessarily strict, but it is very clear... the risk of not aligning with those is low.” – Antonio Montoto, head of storage, Greenvolt Power.[[1]](https://www.energy-storage.news/italy-macse-future-bess-asset-management-europe-enel-greenvolt-ion-bw-ess/)

“MACSE winners will need near-flawless operational discipline: 24/7 monitoring... as Terna’s penalties leave no room for availability dips.” – Anonymous executive.[[1]](https://www.energy-storage.news/italy-macse-future-bess-asset-management-europe-enel-greenvolt-ion-bw-ess/)

Why it matters

MACSE accelerates Italy's GW-scale BESS rollout to integrate renewables and stabilise the grid, influencing Europe's procurement models. Operators and investors face pressure for precise management to meet low-price, high-penalty contracts while stacking revenues. Watch future auctions toward 50GWh and operational performance of 2028 projects, as they could shift risk-sharing norms.