Renewable energy in Italy

Renewable energy primary consumption in Italy was 11.2 Mtoe of hydroelectricity[1]:36[2] and 5.6 Mtoe (or 3.5% of world total) of other renewables[3] in 2010, according to BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2011.[1]:38 This was an increase of 22% over the previous year for renewables other than hydro.

The combined primary energy from renewables accounts for about 10% of the total primary energy consumption in Italy, which was 172 Mtoe in 2010.[1]:40

Electricity

Renewable electricity accounted for the 24.5% of all electric energy produced in Italy in 2011.[4] This percentage is growing rapidly and reached 38.5% in 2013, when a spike in hydroelectric production contributed with more than 9 TWh.[5] During the first quarter of 2014, renewables already generated 39,8% of all electric energy produced,[6] and 49,1% during April.[7]

In 2011 the total gross capacity was 41,352 MW and the total energy produced during the year was 84,190 GWh.[4] In 2013 the energy produced during the year was 106.5 TWh.[5]

Italy is experiencing a surge in renewable energy investments and production in latest years, especially in wind and solar energy. Total electricity produced from solar PV quintupled in 2011 compared to the previous year.[4] This was mainly due to a drop in costs and to high incentives introduced since 2005.[8] The Italian fossil fuel electricity generation sector is undergoing a profound crisis.[9] Many Italian power plants burning fossil fuels are now running at half capacity and others are in the process of being shut down.[10]

Current targets and progress

Italy has a 17 percent target in its total energy use set by the European Union for 2020. Italy may have to import renewable energy to meet these targets.[11]

Italy has planned to subsidize electric cars.[12] Transport accounts for a large amount of fossil fuel use so a quick transition to sustainable transport such as electric cars and trams will be a key element of transition to renewable energy use.[13]

The Italian National Renewable Energy Action Plan has a target to reach the total share of renewable energies to 26%. 39% in the electricity sector, 17,09% in the heating/cooling sector and 14% in the transport sector by 2020.

On June 16, 2013, renewables covered 100% of the entire Italian electricity demand for 2 hours.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2011". BP. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  2. ↑ The figure is based on gross generation from hydroelectric plants, converted on the basis of thermal equivalence assuming 38% conversion efficiency.
  3. ↑ The figure is based on gross generation from renewable sources including wind, geothermal, solar, biomass and waste produced in the country, converted on the basis of thermal equivalence assuming 38% conversion efficiency.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Rapporto Statistico 2011". Statistiche sulle fonti rinnovabili (in Italian). Gestore Servizi Energetici (GSE). Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.qualenergia.it/articoli/20140110-domanda-elettrica-nel-2013-in-calo-un-terzo-da-fonti-rinnovabili-dati-terna
  6. ↑ http://www.qualenergia.it/articoli/20140408-primo-trimestre-2014-cresce-contributo-rinnovabili-su-anno-precedente
  7. ↑ http://www.qualenergia.it/articoli/20140512-primo-quadrimestre-2014-rinnovabili-al-35-virgola8-percento-della-domanda-elettrica
  8. ↑ See also (in Italian): Conto energia.
  9. ↑ http://www.qualenergia.it/articoli/20130903-termoelettrico-crisi-è-record-negativo-i-consumi-gas-record-negativo
  10. ↑ http://www.assoelettrica.it/termoelettrico-centrali-a-meta-servizio-allarme-dei-sindacati/
  11. ↑ http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/03/16/us-renewables-italy-idUSTRE62F4ZM20100316
  12. ↑ http://www.plugincars.com/big-italian-subsidy-could-jump-start-slow-ev-sales-123535.html
  13. ↑ http://technorati.com/lifestyle/green/article/electric-cars-renewable-energy-and-the1/
  14. ↑ http://www.fondazioneuniverde.it/fuoco/a-giugno-in-italia-il-picco-delle-rinnovabili/

External links

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