L’Italy and the largest producer of gas-fired electricity in the European Union (EU), with a production equal to that of Germany and Spain combined, and the fourth largest electricity producer. The country’s share of gas use in the energy production mix is around 50%, almost three times the EU average. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis writes it (IEEFA), a think tank that deals with energy, in a report on the topic.
Italy is the fifth producer of renewable energy in the EUwith less than half of Germany’s renewable production.
According to the IEEFA, aexcessive dependence from gas production means that the country’s solar and wind growth is slower than its potential.
“Italy’s dependence on gas is partly due to existing infrastructure and operational characteristics – reads the report – But this should not justify the extensive use of this fuel in energy production to the detriment of the growth of renewable energy. this strategy could constitute a wrong example for other gas-dependent countries“.
L’absence of a plan to phase out gas production does not pave the way for levels of renewable growth similar to those of key European neighbours, it is emphasised. The Italian government has openly stated that its gas support policy is one of the main reasons why the country is lagging behind in terms of transitioning away from fossil fuels.
The government has some ambitious goals to develop wind and solar capacity. However, according to the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), the announced goals may be difficult to achieve, based on the historical development of renewable energy. The PNIEC predicts that installed solar PV and wind capacity in Italy should reach 45 gigawatts (GW) and 17.3 GW respectively by 2025. This means that between 2023 and 2025, combined solar and wind capacity is expected to grow by 45%, an unexpected number in line with the results obtained in recent years.
While the three largest electricity producers in the EU – France, Germany and Spain – have shown a clear trend to increase renewable energy and reduce gas electricity production, Italy’s electricity mix by 2023 presented a confusing schemewith no clearly dominant energy source, the IEEFA claims.
The development of Italy’s energy capacity shows a equally confusing model than that relating to energy production in 2023. Renewable capacity increased by 25% between 2021 and 2023; LNG capacity has grown by 40% and is expected to continue to increase.
