Renewable sources, it’s a record: in May more than 52% of Italian electricity needs were covered

Italian renewable energy recorded a new record: as of May 2024 they covered 52.5% of national electricity demand. In the same month last year it was 42.3%.

The data were provided by Terna in its Monthly Report on the Electricity System (PDF), among which it is discovered that Italy’s overall electricity demand in May amounted to 24.7 billion kWh, equivalent to a growth by 1.9% compared to May 2023.

Hydroelectric, photovoltaic and wind power are growing

The increased consumption was driven above all by the slight recovery in industry (+1.4%) and to a greater extent by that of services.

84.7% of May demand was met by electricity produced in Italywhile the remaining 15.3% from the balance of energy exchanged with foreign countries.

Of the 21.2 billion net kWh produced in Italy, 52.5% comes from renewable sources. It is the highest value ever for this type of sources and recorded these increases: photovoltaic +36.3%, hydro +34.7%, wind +10.5%.

Overall, renewable energy continues to accelerate its penetration. In the first five months of 2024, renewable capacity in operation is increasing by 42% compared to the same period of the previous year. Specifically, the increase was 3,015 MW.

Terna highlights that the increase in photovoltaic production (+1,062 GWh) was determined by the combined effect of the increase in operating capacity (+669 GWh) and the greater irradiation in the month (+393 GWh).

In this growth scenario, however, the electricity produced from geothermal (-4.3%) and thermal (-14.6%) sources decreases precisely due to the increase in renewables.

In May, coal production covered only 1% of total demand. Since the beginning of the year, coal has remained less than 2% of national needs.