Over the last year from December 2024 to November 2025, Italy has seen a diverse range of sources contributing to its electricity consumption. More than half of Italy's electricity, approximately 44.66%, comes from fossil fuels, with natural gas alone accounting for almost 38% of the supply. Low-carbon energy sources are steadily used, making up about 41.37% of the total electricity generation. Within this category, solar and hydropower are almost even, each contributing around 14%. Wind energy provides more than 8%, while biofuels and geothermal contribute smaller amounts of nearly 4% and slightly over 1%, respectively. Net imports make up almost 12% of the electricity supply, showcasing Italy's reliance on neighboring countries. Although coal and oil might play relatively minor roles, they still jointly contribute around 6% to the overall energy mix.
Data sources used on this page include Ember, ENTSOE, Eurostat, IEA and World Bank. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Italy?
Italy's electricity consumption, recently reported at 4662 kWh per person for 2025, has yet to make a full comeback to its peak of 6112 kWh from 2006. This decrease of 1450 kWh per person since the peak year is somewhat concerning, pointing towards a stagnating demand or possibly efficiency improvements. In the realm of low-carbon electricity, the latest figure stands at 1929 kWh per person, showing a drop from the all-time high of 2202 kWh in 2024. This reduction of 273 kWh in low-carbon production suggests that Italy has challenges ahead in maintaining, much less growing, its clean energy share in the electricity market. This trend is troubling, especially at a time when reducing greenhouse gas emissions is vital to combat climate change.
Suggestions
To bolster low-carbon electricity generation, Italy should capitalize on its strong foundations in solar. Expanding solar power could significantly enhance Italy’s green energy production, drawing inspiration from regions like Nevada and California, which have effectively harnessed solar power, producing upwards of 29% of their electricity needs. Moreover, successful cases of nuclear energy from countries like France and Slovakia, where it provides the majority of the electricity, could serve as a model for Italy to expand its nuclear capabilities. It is crucial for Italy to learn from these countries and adopt best practices in order to increase its production of low-carbon electricity, ensuring a sustainable and cleaner future.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Italy has marked fluctuations that indicate the potential for substantial improvement. During the late 1970s, hydro developments saw a positive lift, but the early 1980s saw critically poor decisions affecting nuclear power, especially a significant decline of 8.6 TWh in 1987. Hydro continued to show variability, with contrasting major upward boosts around 1991 and notable declines through the 1990s and early 2000s. Fortunately, the 2010s heralded remarkable growth in solar power, with significant increases in 2011 and 2012. However, hydro power once again experienced dips in later years, particularly in 2022 and again in 2025. Such a turbulent history underscores the need for consistent focus on stable and sustainable energy growth practices like solar and nuclear advancements to meet increasing electricity demands.
