Wind, solar energy output hit record high in Italy in 2023 (updated)

ERG

22/01/2024 17:54

(Adds details, background)
    By Francesca Landini
       MILAN, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Wind and solar energy
production hit a record last year in Italy, as the country more
than doubled its newly-installed green source capacity, power
grid operator Terna  TRN.MI  said on Monday.
    Solar panel generation rose to 30.6 Terawatt hours (TWh)
while wind farms produced 23.4 TWh, Terna said. 
    It added that all renewable sources, including hydroelectric
plants, covered nearly 37% of electricity demand, up from 31% in
2022, showing that 2030 energy transition targets for the
country could be feasible.
        Italy aims to generate nearly two thirds of its
electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030, the energy
ministry said last June in its draft Plan for Energy and Climate
(PNIEC).
        However, the development of solar and wind farms in
Italy faces multiple challenges including a lengthy process to
win permits and in some cases resistance from local
administrations and the public who fear damage to both the
landscape and agriculture.
  
    On Monday Terna also said that newly-installed renewable
capacity rose by 5.8 gigawatt (GW), signalling a big jump
compared with 2022 when new additions in green capacity were
equal to 2.7 GW.     
    Power production from gas-fired and coal-fired stations fell
respectively 17.4% and 42% last year compensated by the rise in
both green production and electricity imports from abroad.
    In 2023 total power consumption in the country fell 2.8%
year-on-year, to 306.1 TWh, Terna added.
 

 (Reporting by Francesca Landini, editing by Alvise Armellini
and Keith Weir)
 ((francesca.landini@thomsonreuters.com; +39 02 66129437;
Reuters Messaging: reutersitaly.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))