NEWS channel
N.11/24
energy efficiency - smartness - renewables - sustainability - comfort
Overcoming the green and digital challenge
Following a well-deserved break over the summer holiday period, MCE News Channel’s in-depth analyses are back. We are currently living through a period characterised by enormous changes, making it essential that we identify the right direction to move in, and also stay on course in order to meet our objectives.
Massimiliano Pierini Managing Director RX Italy
The goal we are talking about today concerns the movement towards a green, digital, sustainable and technological transition, in other words, a Transition 5.0. This is, in some ways, an epic leap that requires companies to achieve an equally significant change of pace.
But Transition 5.0 is more than just a buzzword: it is a strategy supported by tools aimed at promoting the technological modernisation of companies through the use of various resources. It represents a further movement along the path already indicated by the Industry 4.0 plan, focused on connectivity and digitalisation. And it also adds further steps related to the environment, energy efficiency and monitoring.
This is a transition that offers multiple benefits: environmental (the European Green Deal has provided a strong push in this direction), but also in terms of increased competitiveness and greater energy awareness.
Finally, it is worth remembering the key role played by people and their training: much of the success of the Transition 5.0 plan is in fact linked to the ability of people to use and make the most of what this new evolution makes available to them.
It is an opportunity that Italian enterprises must grasp and use in order to improve processes, products and services and strengthen their presence on the market.
THE MCE – MOSTRA CONVEGNO EXPOCOMFORT NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO ENERGY TRANSITION
THE TRANSITION 5.0 PLAN IN A NUTSHELL
THE EU AND INDIVIDUAL MEMBER STATES ARE PROVIDING COMPANIES WITH INCREASINGLY EFFECTIVE TOOLS IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE TRANSITION 5.0 PLAN. IN THIS SENSE, THE CONTRIBUTION OF ENERGY MANAGERS HAS BEEN FUNDAMENTAL
Transition 5.0, the role of energy managers
In recent years, the enterprises that intend to invest in digitalisation have had the Industry 4.0 plan at their disposal, which later became Enterprise 4.0 and then Transition 4.0. Basically, all these plans have shared a common platform for the projects eligible for incentives, while over time the measures put in place (from super/ hyper depreciation allowances to tax credits) and the intensity of the aid have changed.
While Transition 4.0 incentives are still available, the new Transition 5.0 plan – launched in 2024 – features two fundamental innovations: the need to achieve energy savings of at least 3% if referred to the entire organisation or 5% for single processes, as well as the addition of renewable sources as a condition for joining the incentive scheme, with the exception of biomass, and of specific criteria for photovoltaics and for training projects related to energy efficiency and digitalisation.
The lawmakers therefore consider it essential to focus above all on energy efficiency, with a view to combining decarbonisation, digitalisation, competitiveness and energy security. The energy managers of enterprises can therefore put together the white certificates and Transition 5.0 to support projects aimed at improving the use of energy, taking advantage of the cumulation of both schemes (white certificates in this case are reduced to 50%). Energy managers are thus confirmed as key figures to help companies strengthen their competitiveness on the path towards cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Director, FIRE
A few words with...
Dario Di Santo
Technological innovation at the service of sustainability: Transition 5.0 is a key tool offering strategic advantages for the development and modernisation of Italian companies
The Transition 5.0 plan in a nutshell
The Transition 5.0 plan represents a great opportunity for Italian enterprises as it makes it possible to modernise production processes and equipment with a focus on innovation, sustainability and energy efficiency. Thanks to the plan’s incentive scheme, it is possible to benefit from favourable conditions to invest in tangible and intangible assets, i.e. the elements essential to increase the level of digitalisation and incorporate cutting-edge technologies. This transition not only involves technological innovation, but requires a concrete commitment to greater energy efficiency and a reduction in environmental impact. In particular, companies are incentivised to
focus on the self-production of energy from renewable sources: this brings both environmental benefits, such as the reduction of CO2 emissions and the improvement of the sustainability of corporate operations, as well as economic advantages in terms of energy savings and less dependence on global energy markets.
In a competitive and constantly evolving scenario, the ability to adapt quickly to change is fundamental: the Transition 5.0 plan offers companies the tools to face this challenge, making them more resilient and able to compete effectively on a global scale. Focusing on digitalisation, sustainability and energy efficiency is no longer just a strategic
alternative, but a necessity, in order to ensure lasting and sustainable growth.
WHAT THE TRANSITION 5.0 PLAN ENTAILS
The Transition 5.0 Plan is a measure for the digital transition and sustainability of Italian companies. Financed with PNRR funds (Italy’s national recovery and resilience plan) amounting to 6.36 billion euros in total, it rounds off the Industry 4.0 Plan with the addition of three key concepts: sustainability, resilience and a focus on people.
The available resources are assigned as follows:
• Tangible and intangible assets - 3.78 billion euros;
• Self-production and self-consumption of renewable energy sources - 1.89 billion euros;
• Training - 630,000 euros.
Why it is worth investing under the Transition 5.0 plan
Despite the complexity of the procedures and the documentation required, the Transition 5.0 plan represents an extraordinary opportunity for companies wishing to innovate and make their processes and organisational structure more efficient. This tool is particularly advantageous for several reasons, which can be summarised as follows:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
enhancing competitiveness - the adoption of advanced technologies and increased digitalisation allow companies to boost their operational efficiency, reduce costs and remain competitive in an increasingly dynamic global market;
reduction of energy consumption and supplies – thanks to the adoption of green technologies and energy self-production systems, companies can cut the related costs, while reducing dependence on fossil fuels and fluctuations in energy prices;
sustainability and mitigation of environmental impact – the plan promotes the integration of efficient energy solutions and self-production from renewable sources, helping reduce the environmental footprint of enterprises and adopt an ESG-based approach (Environmental, Social and Governance);
innovation – the Transition 5.0 plan pushes companies to invest in innovative assets, stimulating research and development of new technologies capable of improving business processes;
compliance with future regulations - thanks to this plan, companies can prepare in advance to comply with increasingly stringent regulations on sustainability and digitalisation;
accessible investments - the financial benefits under the Transition 5.0 plan make investments in technology and sustainability less expensive, allowing companies to face the transition with greater peace of mind; skills - opportunity to invest in staff training on key issues such as digital transition and energy efficiency.
The key points of the plan
TIMEFRAME 1st January 2024 – 31st December 2025
RECIPIENTS
� Enterprises of any size, legal form and tax regime that invest in innovative projects in Italy aimed at reducing their energy consumption.
ELIGIBLE ASSETS
� Investments in 4.0 tangible and intangible assets linked to the reduction of energy consumption;
� Photovoltaic systems and other systems for energy self-production and self-consumption;
� Training for the acquisition of skills in digital and energy transition.
Piano Transizione 5.0
REDUCTION OF CONSUMPTION
� At least 3% of the energy consumption of the production organisation;
� At least 5% of the energy consumption of the processes concerned .
CONCESSION
� Tax credits of up to 45%
� Different tax rates are provided based on the level of efficiency obtained and the investment made;
� Up to 10% for training programmes.
INVESTMENTS
Maximum 50,000,000 euros per year for each recipient.
Continuously monitoring and improving efficiency
Gianni Parlanti – Managing Director, BITZER Italia S.r.l.
Transition 5.0 represents a crucial step for the Italian industry, leading to a model based on connectivity, adaptability and integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and sensors. This change embraces the principles of sustainability, digitalisation and energy efficiency, not only as an evolution, but as a real qualitative leap. In this context, Bitzer is committed to developing solutions that optimise production processes and drastically reduce energy consumption, such as the last-generation permanent magnet motors, intelligent inverters and electronic solutions for heat pumps. Digitalisation and system integration make it possible to constantly monitor and improve the efficiency of our systems, ensuring reliability and high performance. Intelligence incorporated into compressors also plays an increasingly essential role in systems where accurate machine management and the need for timely troubleshooting are fundamental. That’s why Bitzer has already started to revolution-
ise the control and management of reciprocating compressors with the IQ Module, which offers extraordinary flexibility depending on the specific needs of the system installed.
Through the Bitzer Group’s full service provider, Green Point, we also offer energy efficiency services that improve the performance of existing systems while reducing their environmental impact. Green Point also offers Energy Cycle, a suite of integrated and strategic services that are key to unlocking the benefits of Industry 5.0. The services provided include measurement campaigns, advice and implementation of customised solutions for the efficiency of refrigeration systems, ensuring a positive impact for the economy and the environment. In addition, Green Point provides state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems for the optimal management of energy resources, as a result enhancing sustainability and operational efficiency.