Energy consumption and emissions are down in Italy. On Easter Monday, a record for renewables

The mild climate has given its fundamental contribution, and it is to be hoped that more careful attitudes and customs have become part of the baggage of the Italians. The datum is that energy consumption in Italy fell (-5%) in the first half of 2023. The first driver of this decline “was the extremely mild climate of the winter that just ended, which was superimposed by the significant contraction in industrial production in the more gas intensive sectors”, reads the analysis by ENEA.

“The decline in consumption primarily concerns the civil sector (-12%)mainly due to the lower use of gas for heating, as a consequence of the administrative and efficiency measures adopted, but above all due to the exceptionally mild climate of the first months of the year, in January in particular”, he explains Francesco Graccevawhich takes care of the Enea Analysis of the energy system.

Industry too “recorded a reduction in consumption (-10%) – continues the expert – determined in particular by the up to 20% drop in production in the gas intensivewhose energy consumption is now more than 5% lower than in 2020. Transport consumption, on the other hand, is growing (+3%), with an increase concentrated almost entirely in the first quarter of 2023 and a progressive return to pre-pandemic levels”.

The data is also positive in terms of emissions. In fact, there is talk of “a new significant reduction in CO2 emissions (-9%), which had already decreased between October and December 2022 after six consecutive quarterly increases”. In this case, the mix is ​​given by the lower use of heating, the cut of coal-fired electricity production, the increase in renewables and electricity imports and the slowdown of the economy.

If we look at energy sources, the Enea analysis also explains, the reduction in gas (-16%) and coal (-15%) consumption was offset by a marked increase in electricity imports (+22%). Electricity renewables are growing (+5%), with an overall share of renewable sources in final consumption that is expected to exceed the all-time high of 2020 (20.4%) at the end of 2023. “Even if the trajectory towards the new target of 40% by 2030 would require much more marked growth”, comments Gracceva.

It should be noted that non-programmable electric renewables (wind and solar) recorded a new all-time high in the 13-15 time slot on 10 April (Easter Monday) with coverage of over 80% of demand.