Italy's electricity consumption in 2024 presents a mixed picture where fossil and low-carbon energy sources each contribute to nearly half of the country's electricity generation mix. Fossil sources, particularly gas, make up around 43% of electricity consumption, while low-carbon sources, collectively accounting for just over 41%, are supported primarily by hydropower, solar, wind, and geothermal energy. The nation notably relies on hydropower for over 16% and harnesses solar energy for about 11% of its electricity needs. Meanwhile, net electricity imports, constituting approximately 16%, and a relatively small coal contribution, less than 3%, round off the figures. These proportions present both challenges and opportunities for Italy as it aspires to increase its clean electricity generation to curb emissions and boost energy security.
Is Electricity Growing in Italy?
Addressing Italy’s electricity consumption growth reveals a concerning trend. In 2024, an average Italian consumed around 5321 kWh of electricity per person, signifying a notable drop from the record 6112 kWh per person achieved in 2006. While there has been some success in the growth of low-carbon electricity, which reached 2200 kWh per person, marking an increase from the 2014 record of 1978 kWh per person, the overall per-person consumption decline signals a stagnation in electricity use. This contradicts the global imperative for increased electricity utilization to support economic growth, electrification, and technologies like AI. Such stagnation could obstruct Italy from fully realizing the benefits of a more electrified society unless corrective measures are undertaken.
Suggestions
To address this challenge and further elevate its low-carbon profile, Italy should focus on the expansion of its successful solar initiatives. Increasing solar energy infrastructure can build on the current success, while the nation can also draw inspiration from regions excelling in low-carbon electricity generation. Countries like France and Slovakia, with their high nuclear energy contributions, underscore the potential benefits of investing in reliable nuclear power to complement intermittent sources like solar and wind. Denmark’s and Iowa’s thriving wind sectors advocate for Italy to explore wind energy alongside solar, to diversify its energy mix further. By learning from these examples, Italy can strategically leverage nuclear and solar energy to significantly increase its low-carbon electricity generation, thereby realizing both environmental and economic benefits.
History
Historically, Italy's journey with low-carbon electricity has witnessed significant fluctuations, especially in hydropower and nuclear energy sectors. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, hydropower experienced an inconsistent pattern with notable increases and declines. Unfortunately, the late 1980s saw a critical turn in nuclear energy with a significant decline of 8.6 TWh in 1987, marking a pivotal moment that curbed its potential to contribute to green electricity. From the 1990s onwards, Italy's hydropower generation continued to rise and fall erratically, highlighting the need for more stable and diverse low-carbon generation options. In recent years, milestones such as the rise of solar energy, highlighted by an 8.9 TWh increase in 2011, illustrate the promising potential of solar power if expanded further. Italy’s current focus should thus be on harnessing this potential while revisiting its approach towards nuclear energy for a more robust green electricity future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.