(Alliance News) - During 2023, Italian electricity consumption decreased by 2.8 percent compared to 2022 to 306.1 billion kWh, according to Terna Spa surveys released on Monday.

The figure for renewable sources was positive, covering a total of 36.8 percent of demand last year, compared to 31 percent in 2022. The figure is up thanks to the positive trend contribution of all sources and, in particular, hydroelectric production, which is back in line with historical values.

Industrial consumption is also trending downward. The IMCEI index, compiled by Terna, which looks at the industrial consumption of about 1,000 "energy-intensive" companies, registers a negative change of 3.9 percent compared to 2022.

The trend decline in annual electricity demand of 2.8 percent is the result of strong negative variations in the first half of the year that gradually gave way to moderate positive variations since September.

However, this trend is a consequence of the comparison with last year, which was characterized by a significant reduction in demand in the second half of the year as a result of the energy crisis.

Analyzing the temporal trend in demand, it is therefore clear that the reduction observed since the second half of 2022 has remained essentially unchanged until today, remaining at levels consistently lower than the previous historical trend.

Relative to supply, in 2023 there was not only a significant growth in renewable production of 15 percent but also an important increase in the net foreign balance of 19 percent as a result of a sharp decrease in exports of 24 percent and an increase in imports of 15 percent. Relevant to this increase is the role of interconnections as an efficiency and security tool for the electricity system.

According to Terna's findings outlined in the monthly report, considering all renewable sources, there were about 5.8 GW of new activations in 2023, which is about 2.7 GW higher than in 2022. The figure underscores the acceleration in the development of renewables: in fact, it went from new activations of 1 GW in 2021, to about 3 GW in 2022. In addition, according to Terna data updated as of December 31, 2023, there are about 6 GW that have obtained the Final Minimum Technical Solution for connection to the national electricity grid.

By Giuseppe Fabio Ciccomascolo, Alliance News senior reporter

Comments and questions to redazione@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2024 Alliance News IS Italian Service Ltd. All rights reserved.