How many times have you stared at the roofs of new houses and wondered why, in a sunny country like ours, there are still so many empty spaces where there could be solar panels? Great Britain, decidedly less fortunate in terms of radiation, has decided to give a drastic answer to this question: From 2027, all new homes will have to be equipped with a mandatory photovoltaic system.
A bold political choice that aims to structurally change the way we build and think about houses. Not a suggestion or an incentive, but a peremptory obligation that has already triggered contrasting reactions. The question arises spontaneously: could it also work in Italy, where mandatory photovoltaics would produce even better results?
The move of the English Labour Party
The British measure immediately became a topic of discussion, both political and economic. The Labour government led by Keir Starmer announced (with a preview of the daily newspaper The Times) that by 2027 builders will be required by law to install solar panels on the roofs of every new home.
A simple economic calculation: the initial investment is around 3.000 to 4.000 pounds, but the expected annual savings are around 1.000 pounds. In four years, therefore, the investment would be completely repaid.
It's not just a question of household savings, though. It is part of a much more ambitious plan. The Starmer government has set energy targets that are understatingly ambitious: build 1,5 million new homes by the end of the legislature and fully decarbonize electricity generation by 2030. Added to this is the promise (we'll see) of reduce energy bills by £300 a year.
For too long we have wasted the free energy that falls on our roofs every day. Now, those living in new build homes will save hundreds of pounds a year on their energy bills.
So he commented Lily Rose Ellis, activist of Greenpeace UK, perfectly summarizing the spirit of the initiative. A technology that according to the British government is
“fundamental to reducing household bills, increasing national energy security and achieving the goal of net zero emissions”.
The clash with Tony Blair
Not everyone is happy with this change. The former prime minister Tony Blair, through its Foundation, published a report critical of zero-emissions policies, calling them “irrational” and “doomed to fail”. According to Blair, citizens would be forced to make “financial sacrifices and lifestyle changes” with “minimal” effects on global emissions.
A position that has raised such a storm that it has forced the Foundation itself to partially retract, recognizing that the path towards net zero emissions is still the right one. But the clash highlights a significant fracture in the approach to the energy transition, even within the same political spectrum.
At the moment Blair has obtained the support of United, the second largest British union with 1,2 million members, and Starmer has environmentalists on his side. A clash that recalls, with due proportions, the one between economic pragmatism and ecological ambition that characterizes the debate on the energy transition in many countries, including Italy. Right, Italy! How would things go here, with a measure like that? I'll tell you right away, just a small practical premise.
The numbers of mandatory photovoltaic in the UK
Let's try to analyze the concrete numbers of the British project. Assuming an average of 5 panels of 375 Wp per home, each home would be equipped with a system of approximately 1,875 kWp. Considering that in the United Kingdom a system produces on average 900 kWh per kWp installed (due to the more limited irradiation), each home would generate approximately 1.687,5 kWh per year.
With the target of 1,5 million new homes, the total energy contribution would be around 2,53 TWh per year. A significant amount which, although only a small percentage of total UK electricity consumption, would be a tangible step towards decarbonisation. Good. Now we can talk about ourselves.
In Italy? The potential of “our” eventual mandatory photovoltaic
The question arises spontaneously, and I have asked it several times: what would happen if we applied the same obligation in Italy? The numbers could be much more interesting. Our country enjoys a significantly higher average irradiation, with an average production of approximately 1.200 kWh per kWp installed (compared to 900 in the United Kingdom).
Maintaining the same sizing of the systems (1,875 kWp per home), each Italian home would produce approximately 2.250 kWh per year. Assuming the same number of new buildings (1,5 million), it would reach a total production of 3,375 TWh per year. Would you like a little overview?
| Parameter | UK | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| kWh/kWp production | 900 | 1.200 |
| Production per home (kWh/year) | 1.687,5 | 2.250 |
| Total production (TWh/year) | 2,53 | 3,375 |
| % of annual electricity consumption | Up to 0,8% | Up to 1,2% |
These 3,375 TWh would represent approximately 1,2% of Italy's annual electricity consumption (which in 2023 stood at around 282 TWh). Again, this is not a figure that would solve all our energy problems, but it would constitute a significant contribution to the emission reduction objectives set by the European Union. So why don't we do it?
How far are we from mandatory photovoltaic in Italy?
To be honest, Italy has already started to move in this direction. Italian legislation already provides for some progressive obligations:
Since 2026, All newly constructed public and commercial buildings must be equipped with photovoltaic systems. Since 2029, the obligation will also be extended to residential buildings, with minimum requirements of 1 kWp every 20 square meters of surface area and a 60% coverage of energy needs from renewable sources.
So, in theory, we are already going in the same direction as the UK, albeit on a more extended timescale. But there are some key differences in approach.
Advantages and obstacles of the Italian model
Italy could enjoy significant advantages in adopting a mandatory photovoltaic system similar to the British one. In addition to the aforementioned increased productivity of the plants thanks to better irradiation, we would also benefit from some bureaucratic simplifications already in place for solar energy. For example, the installation of photovoltaic systems up to 200 kW is considered ordinary maintenance, with approval times reduced to 3 months.
Of course, there are also specific challenges that could complicate the implementation of a generalized obligation.. Two in particular come to mind:
The initial costs, although mitigated by incentives such as the ecobonus and various tax breaks, are a significant barrier for many Italian families, especially in an already difficult economic context.
Territorial heterogeneity: this is perhaps the biggest obstacle. Landscape restrictions in protected areas, historic centers and areas of particular architectural value could limit the installation of solar panels in many parts of the country.
The impact on the Italian energy system
It would have a significant impact. In addition to direct energy production, the obligation to use photovoltaic systems on new buildings would lead to a greater diffusion of technical skills and a reduction in costs thanks to economies of scale.
Furthermore, distributed generation of this scale would help stabilize the electricity grid, reducing transmission losses and peaks in demand. In a country like ours, where summer blackouts linked to the massive use of air conditioners are still a problem, this would not be an advantage to be underestimated.
In short: a viable and necessary path
The probability that Italy will adopt a regulation similar to the British one does not seem at all remote to me, even considering the alignment with European directives and measures already planned. However, the success of such an initiative will depend on several crucial factors.
It will be necessary to strengthen economic incentives to offset initial costs, balance landscape conservation and energy needs, and invest in public education to increase social acceptance of these technologies.
The UK model shows us that legal obligation can accelerate the energy transition, but it requires a clear regulatory framework and cross-party political support. With the solar potential we have, the economic and environmental benefits of such a measure could far outweigh those expected in the UK.
Perhaps, looking at the empty roofs of new Italian buildings, we should ask ourselves not if we can afford to impose mandatory photovoltaics, but if we can afford not to do so. Because sometimes what seems like an imposition from above is actually an opportunity that we will never have the courage to seize on our own.
