Italy does not forge ahead

In 2021, Italy had an energy dependency of 78%, among the highest in the European Union, where the average is 60.5%. Thanks above all to the growth of renewables, Italy's energy autonomy has increased by 9% in recent years (reaching 22.5%).
After the invasion of Ukraine, efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy were important: from 40% to 18% in 7 months, but the result was achieved by increasing imports from other countries.
According to GreenItaly of the Symbola Foundation, Italy, which was in line with the European objectives for 2020 (20.4%) for energy obtained from renewables, in 2021 decreased this share to 18, 9%. Renewable energy sources mainly include hydro, solar and wind.

NO DELAY ON THE EUROPEAN TARGET
Due to the sharp slowdown in installations, Italy is lagging behind on the European RePowerEu target for 2030. The new wind and photovoltaic installations being activated are less than half of those that would be needed to achieve the objectives set . At the rate of current installations (about 2.5 GW in 2022), the expected power, which corresponds to 85 GW, is not even remotely reached. Much responsibility lies with the public administration which proves to be inefficient at various levels, especially in the regional sphere, by denying the issue of the necessary authorisations. It's like traveling with the handbrake on.

CARBON NEUTRALITY BY 2050?
To reach the 85 GW goal in 2030, an annual average of 10-12 GW of new renewable installations would be needed from 2025, just to catch up with the current delays. Otherwise we will fail the commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, which - it is worth remembering - is not only a national goal, but also a European goal. The Italian renewables supply chain in Italy produced a total turnover of 23 billion euros for almost 60 thousand employees in 2019.

GOING BACK TO FOSSIL FUEL?
Development consistent with RePowerEu would have economic repercussions of 345 billion for Italy between now and 2030, or over 38 billion on average per year, equivalent to 2.2% of GDP, with the creation of 470 thousand new jobs. Yet, many politicians and the media prefer to talk about something else. In politics, there are those who want to slow down by returning to fossil fuels and those who instead want to accelerate the transition to renewables, efficiency and the circular economy.

FIRMS SEEM TO BE AHEAD OF POLITICS
Meanwhile, the other European countries are getting up to speed. Germany, this year will install 5 GW of photovoltaic alone and another 3 of wind, Spain will exceed 3 GW of photovoltaic and one of wind, the Netherlands is aiming for 3 of photovoltaic and another 2 of wind, France will exceed 2 GW of photovoltaics and will reach 2 of wind. Poland will reach 2 GW of photovoltaics and another 2 of wind. Businesses appear to be ahead of politics in the report presented at Ecomondo 2022, the reference event for the ecological transition. Finally, 8 out of 10 companies argue that renewal is essential and that the ecological transition is necessary for recovery; on the contrary, the commitment on this front is necessary to defend and increase its competitiveness. This is a sample of 1,000 companies representing the Italian production system. 76% believe that this is in the interest not only of their company, but of the entire country.

TAKE MEASURES TO USE ENERGY AND WATER MORE EFFICIENTLY
A large part of the entrepreneurs interviewed took action, intervening on their company to adapt it to the needs imposed by the climate crisis and the difficulty of supplying raw materials. 55% have taken steps to use energy and water more efficiently. And one in three is considering further investments in renewable sources. The opportunities are there. For example, for the agricultural sector, the art. 8 of the Aid Decree (Draghi Government) encourages the production of electricity from renewable sources, through the construction of systems on the roofs of its production facilities. At the same time, the disposal of asbestos on roofs, the thermal insulation of roofs and the improvement of ventilation are encouraged.

STAY INFORMED
Finally, how do we users – who are in the midst of bills – supervise that each subject does its part? How can we orient ourselves between the reduction of superfluous energy consumption, subsidized investments in homes and various energy tools? First of all by staying informed, which is not practiced today. Then focusing attention on what actually matters and not on bar discussions which seem to be the only commitment, for now, of the current political class.


Carlo Degiacomi
NP December 2022