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Industrial flexibility and system stability

How gas interruptibility becomes a value for businesses.

In recent years, the gas market has demonstrated the strategic importance of energy stability for the country's industrial continuity. Price volatility, import tensions, and peaks in industrial gas demand have highlighted the need for structural tools to protect the grid's balance.

This is the context for the technical interruptibility of gas withdrawals service, promoted by SNAM. This mechanism allows the grid operator to have the capacity to reduce interruptible consumption in the event of critical situations. This is not an improvised emergency measure, but a regulated and planned tool that contributes to the stability of the gas grid during the most sensitive periods of the gas year.

How the Gas interruptibility service works

The service is based on a clear principle: certain industrial companies agree to temporarily reduce their industrial gas withdrawals at the request of the network operator, in exchange for a financial remuneration determined through an auction. Technical gas interruptibility is therefore a voluntary contractual mechanism that allows consumption flexibility to be integrated into the overall management of the national system.

What is technical gas interruptibility?

From an operational standpoint, participating companies make available a portion of their industrial gas consumption that can be potentially modulated. If activated, they must reduce their withdrawals according to the timeframes and methods established by SNAM procedures. The remuneration awarded does not depend exclusively on actual activation, but on guaranteed availability. This element allows companies to plan their participation with a prior and structured economic assessment, benefiting from a remuneration mechanism regardless of the actual use of the program by the network operator.

In what situations can SNAM activate the outage?

Activation occurs exclusively in the presence of critical situations for the system, such as imbalances between industrial gas demand and network availability, sudden reductions in supplies, or peaks in consumption during the winter months. The service is part of the broader national gas emergency plan, representing a prevention tool that reduces the risk of unscheduled and more invasive interventions.

The SNAM 2025/2026 program: activation period and rationale

Based on the positive experience gained in previous years, SNAM has confirmed the program for the 2025/2026 gas year. The validity period coincides with the statistically most critical period for network management. The service is active from 7 January 7 to 31 March 2026, months when gas demand is highest and the system is most exposed to potential tensions.

Historically, activation frequency has been limited. This aspect is particularly important for businesses, as it allows them to evaluate participation from a risk management perspective that balances economic opportunity and operational impact.

Advantages
Who can join
Deadlines

What economic benefits does Gas Interruptibility offer businesses?

For energy-intensive gas companies, the service represents a concrete economic lever. Participation allows them to receive compensation for the capacity made available, transforming part of their industrial gas withdrawals into an active tool for generating value. In addition to direct remuneration, interruptibility fosters greater internal energy awareness. The opportunity to map consumption and identify margins of flexibility often leads to broader gas consumption optimization, with structural benefits even outside the program.
 

This also applies to the electricity interruptibility service, a program that allows businesses to modulate their industrial loads to support the national grid. Participation means receiving remuneration for the power made available, without requiring manual intervention, and allows for the identification of energy flexibility margins that can lead to more efficient management of overall electricity consumption. In a context where gas is historically perceived as a pure cost commodity, this approach allows for moving beyond a consolidated paradigm, integrating flexibility into the industrial strategy.

Who can participate in the program and what are the requirements?

The program is aimed primarily at energy-intensive gas companies and industrial businesses with high industrial gas consumption. A key requirement is the technical ability to modulate or reduce consumption upon request from the operator, which must be made at least 24 hours in advance. The SNAM 2025/2026 procedures define the participation conditions in detail, including technical and operational parameters.

For many companies, the preliminary assessment requires a joint analysis between the technical and energy management departments.

What are the deadlines and participation procedures for 2026/2027?

The participation procedures for the next thermal year will be governed by the SNAM 2026/2027 procedures, published annually. The process generally involves an auction phase, followed by capacity assignment. Meeting the deadlines is essential to ensure access to the expected remuneration. For this reason, many companies choose to rely on specialized operators (aggregators) capable of managing the process in a structured and optimized manner, ensuring maximum remuneration from the program and comprehensive support for all aspects of participation.

The role of aggregators in the Gas interruptibility service

Aggregate participation reduces complexity and operational risk. Aggregators, like Enel, bring together multiple customers in a single portfolio, managing the interaction with SNAM and coordinating the bureaucratic and technical aspects. This model maximizes gas interruptibility fees and ensures continuous operational support, especially during the activation phase. For businesses, it means accessing the program with a more streamlined and integrated level of management.

Enel's offer for Gas interruptibility 2025/2026

For the 2025/2026 gas year, Enel participated in the auction by aggregating a portfolio of gas-intensive customers, able to reduce their withdrawals based on grid needs. Participating through Enel allows businesses to benefit from simplified portfolio management, comprehensive bureaucratic and operational support, and maximized remuneration from the program. Participating within the portfolio aggregated by Enel allows them to delegate the administrative management of the program to a qualified operator with extensive experience in flexibility markets, both in Italy and around the world. Gas interruptibility is part of a broader offering of flexibility programs supporting grid stability and industrial competitiveness. In addition to interruptibility, companies can evaluate tools such as Capacity Market and local flexibility programs, integrating different levers into a coherent and structured energy strategy.

A case study: the agreement with Rummo

The agreement between Enel and Rummo represents a concrete example of integrating energy flexibility and industrial strategy. The company, strongly interested in developing flexibility solutions for social and corporate sustainability, has joined the Gas Interruptibility program promoted by the Enel merger.

The collaboration demonstrates how even complex production facilities can identify margins for consumption modulation without compromising operational continuity. The solution implemented is a clear example of a win-win mechanism, with benefits for the country and the participating companies. Through this model, flexibility becomes a structural element of corporate energy governance, contributing both to national energy security and the economic sustainability of the company.

How Gas interruptibility contributes to National Energy Security

The service strengthens the resilience of the Italian gas system, allowing the operator to intervene in a targeted manner in the event of critical situations. This reduces the risk of uncontrolled outages and improves the country's ability to respond to complex scenarios. The collaboration between operators, businesses, and aggregators represents an example of shared responsibility, in which industrial energy flexibility becomes a strategic asset for the entire economy.