In today’s Council of Ministers the agreement on ground-mounted photovoltaics. Renewables to be tripled but Italy is late. Wholesale electricity prices in Italy are the highest in Europe: the newspaper review
The Council of Ministers is expected to be held in the afternoon, which should resolve the controversy over ground-mounted photovoltaics in agricultural fields with a green light for advanced photovoltaics with systems installed at a height sufficient to preserve agricultural and ‘agrisolar’ activities. But in the meantime, around 80 new gigawatts of renewables in seven years (almost twelve per year) to greatly exceed the 140 gigawatts at the end of 2030, the intermediate stage of the Net zero target for 2050 envisaged by the Pniec, could be difficult to achieve, despite an acceleration of the authorization procedures. During 2023, renewables have grown in Italy like never before in the last decade. Yet, operators and associations are worried: even if growth were to continue at this rate, our country would still not be able to reach the decarbonisation objectives that the European Union has set for 2030. Finally, the wholesale prices of the sector electricity throughout Europe have skyrocketed with Italy confirming itself as the most expensive of all: Since early March, France, complaining of problems with the national electricity grid, has reduced exports to Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium.
PHOTOVOLTAIC, GOVERNMENT TOWARDS AGREEMENT: NO TO NEW GROUND PANELS IN THE FIELDS
“The Council of Ministers will be in the afternoon. But the agreement on photovoltaics which had seen a clash of views between the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin and the Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida now seems to have been reached. And it should end like this: green light for advanced photovoltaics with systems installed at such a height as to preserve agricultural activity and for ‘agrisolare’ (with systems installed on the roofs of the buildings of agricultural and agro-industrial companies). Instead, stop new ground-mounted photovoltaic systems that involve the use of land, which remains available to farmers. Without prejudice to the works already started. Pichetto’s pressure remains so that the concept of ‘unsuitable areas’ is not mentioned in the legislative decree”. This is what we read in today’s Corriere della Sera. “(…) ‘We do not absolutely prohibit investments in photovoltaics, but we aim for criteria of compatibility with agricultural production’, explained Lollobrigida to Il Sole 24 Ore, (…) At today’s Council of Ministers (…) however, we will also discuss a measure that has sparked controversy. The one on urban regeneration which could contain the ‘save home’. (…)”, concludes the newspaper.
ENERGY, RENEWABLES TO TRIPLE. BUT WE PROCEED WITH AUTHORIZATIONS
“About 80 new gigawatts of renewables in seven years (almost twelve per year) to well exceed 140 gigawatts at the end of 2030, the intermediate stage of the Net zero target for 2050. This is the objective set by the Integrated National Energy Plan and the climate (Pniec) that the Italian government presented in Brussels. With the Venaria Charter, approved by the G7 which was held under the Italian presidency at the end of April in Turin, the target is now even more ambitious: there is talk of tripling it and today in our country there are 66 gigawatts”. This is what we read in the Economia insert of the Corriere della Sera.
“How are the authorizations going? According to data from the REgions2030 Observatory, managed by Elemens and Public Affairs Advisor, which the Corriere anticipates here, in the first quarter of 2024 just under 2,500 megawatts are authorized for solar (equal to 2.5 gigawatts) and 250 megawatts for wind power. The figure is, all things considered, in line with 2023 (indeed, it perhaps gives hope for a better result at least for solar), when 6.1 gigawatts of solar and 1.5 of wind were authorised. (…) Suitable or acceleration conditions that are defined, the step must be lengthened. ‘A clear acceleration was already necessary compared to the target of 12 Gw per year – comments Agostino Re Rebaudengo, president of Elettricità Futura -. Now with Italy’s much more ambitious commitment signed at the G7, to triple renewables by 2030, a decisive change of pace is more urgent than ever. Instead, we are seeing measures that go in the totally opposite direction, such as the moratorium of the Sardinia Region, the restrictions of many other Regions and the draft law decree of the Ministry of Agriculture which prohibits ground-mounted photovoltaics in agricultural areas. Yes, because now there is a new trend for solar: taking into consideration mainly, if not exclusively, agrivoltaics”, we read on the insert.
“(…) The incentives for onshore wind and solar are arriving with the Fer X decree, prepared by Mase and being examined by Brussels. ‘The form – explains Barbetti – will be that of a two-way contract for differences, assigned through an auction with downward offers on values equal to 80 euros per megawatt hour for wind and 85 euros for solar, up to 95 euros if you are North. In the case of advanced (high) agrivoltaics, only when an agricultural entrepreneur is also present in the corporate structure, will it be possible to access the Agrivoltaic decree as an alternative to Fer at 40% of the investment cost’. The money for the Agrivoltaic ministerial decree comes from the Pnrr. The question is: will there be a ‘dual’ use for the same land and, in addition to the agrivoltaic incentive for wind farm operators, will farmers be able to apply for subsidies from the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy? (…)”, concludes the newspaper.
ENERGY: ITALY LATE ON RENEWABLES “WILL NOT MEET ITS 2030 OBJECTIVES”
“During 2023, renewables have grown in Italy like never before in the last decade. Coming to cover 43.8% of energy demand, well above the EU averages. A trend confirmed in the first months of the year. Yet, operators and associations are worried: even if growth were to continue at this rate, our country would still not be able to reach the decarbonisation objectives that the European Union has set for 2030. Furthermore, also confirmed by our government both at the Cop 28 in Dubai and just recently at the Energy G7 which was held at the Venaria palace in Turin”. This is what we read in today’s La Repubblica. “But declarations and commitments made only on paper are one thing, the reality of the facts is another. According to data from Terna, the public company that manages the high voltage grid, the installed renewable capacity increased by 6 Gigawatts (Gw) in 2023: although it is 2.7 Gw higher than the installations of the previous year, we are still far from 9 GW per year needed until 2030. As Ember, the London-based independent think tank that wants to contribute to accelerating the energy transition, wrote in one of its latest reports, Italy has awakened from her torpor’. Adding, however, that at this speed it will be impossible to achieve the objective of 70% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, set by Brussels: wind and solar production will have to grow by 17% per year, compared to approximately 13% in 2023. Certainly, the latest initiatives of the government (with the Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida) and of the Regions (from Sardinia to Lombardy) which would like a moratorium for new concessions for wind and photovoltaic plants, will certainly not help (…) The data dismantles also the enthusiasm for the records of 2023. Because last year there was a decline in energy demand which favored the growth of renewables and as can be seen in the graph, the demand had already been satisfied for a share greater than 43 % already in 2014, thanks to super hydroelectric production. As if little has changed in recent years. And, in part, that’s exactly how it is.”
ELECTRICITY, ITALY WITHOUT RESERVES: SO (IN THE EU) IT COSTS DOUBLE
“Wholesale electricity prices in Italy are the highest in Europe. Germany, for example, between May and October will pay 23% less than us and France 45%. In a single, free and interconnected market, prices in geographic submarkets (individual nations) should not differ that much. (…) The causes of this imbalance are essentially two, one contingent and one structural. Since early March, France, complaining of problems with the national electricity grid, has reduced exports to Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium. Brussels, which has become suspicious of the unusual decline in French electricity exports (which had fallen by 40% on 19 April), has opened an official investigation to understand how much truth there is in the “technical problems” indicated by the French for justify such a drastic reduction. The Italian market has been affected because we import around 14% of the energy we consume.” This is what we read in today’s Il Fatto Quotidiano. “(…) In the weak situation in which we find ourselves, and at the dawn of possible new international tensions in the energy field, it would be appropriate for Rome to clarify the issue with Paris as soon as possible and in the meantime redirect Terna towards more effective investments to reduce the price of energy. We must always remember that, green or not, the most expensive energy is the one that is missing,” concluded the newspaper.
