Italy Energy Information

Total Energy Consumption

Italy's per capita energy consumption is nearly 17% lower than the EU average (2.5 toe in 2021). Electricity consumption per capita is around 5 000 kWh (5075 kWh in 2021), i.e. 8% below the EU average.

Total energy consumption, which had declined slightly between 2017 and 2019 (-1.5%/year), fell by 6.5% in 2020 before increasing by 6% to 146 Mtoe in 2021 (16% below its 2010 level). Consumption declined rapidly between its peak in 2005 and 2014 (by 2.6%/year).

Graph: CONSUMPTION TRENDS BY ENERGY SOURCE (Mtoe)

Interactive Chart Italy Total Energy Consumption

Crude Oil Production

Oil and NGL production decreased by 15% in 2021 to 5 Mt, after a 24% increase in 2020.

Crude oil imports rose by 11% to 59 Mt in 2021. Five suppliers accounted for 3/4 of crude oil supply in 2021, namely Azerbaijan (23%), Libya (19%), Iraq (14%), Russia, and Saudi Arabia (10% each). In March 2022, in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, Eni stopped buying oil and oil products from Russia and Italy, among other G7 nations, pledged in May 2022 to end Russian oil imports.

Interactive Chart Italy Crude Oil Production

Oil Products Consumption

Oil product consumption, which decreased slightly (-1.6%/year) between 2015 and 2019, fell by 15% in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, before increasing again by 6% in 2021 to reach 46.7 Mt.

Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION (Mt)

Interactive Chart Italy Refined Oil Products Production

Natural Gas Consumption

Natural gas consumption, which increased between 2014 and 2019 (+3.8%/year) due to rising consumption in the power sector, declined by 4% in 2020, before increasing by 7% in 2021 to reach 76 bcm. Gas consumption, declined by 3.6%/year from a peak at 86 bcm in 2005 until 2014 owing to lower demand from the power sector and industry.

Graph: NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION (bcm)

Interactive Chart Italy Natural Gas Domestic Consumption

Coal Consumption

Coal consumption has more than halved between 2010 and 2020 (-64%, including -25% in 2019 and -27% in 2020) because of the closure of coal fired power plants and a higher competition from gas and renewables. However, it rebounded by nearly 8% in 2021 to 8.5 Mt.

Power generation accounts for 75% of coal consumption in 2021(stable compared to 2020) and industry consumes most of the remainder (24%).

Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION (Mt)

Interactive Chart Italy Coal and Lignite Domestic Consumption

Power Consumption

Electricity consumption remained stable between 2014 and 2019. It contracted by 6% in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before rising again by 6% in 2021 to reach 301 TWh. It fell by 1.5%/year on average from its peak in 2008 through 2014.

Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION (TWh)

Renewable in % Electricity Production

Italy exceeded by more than 3 points its 2020 renewable targets (17%), as the share of renewables in final energy consumption in 2020 reached 20.4% (38% for electricity vs target of 26%), 20% for heating and cooling (target of 17%) and 10.7% in transport. The NECP 2030 targets a share of 30% of renewables in final consumption, including 55% in electricity consumption, 34% in heat consumption and 20% in transport. It plans 50 GW of solar PV in 2030 (+30 GW).

Interactive Chart Italy Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)

CO₂ Fuel Combustion/CO₂ Emissions

GHG emissions have been decreasing since their peak at 571 MtCO₂eq in 2007 (-38% between 2007 and 2020). GHG emissions dipped by nearly 10% in 2020, to reach 353 MtCO₂eq. In 2020, GHG emissions were 32% lower than their 1990 level.

The NECP 2030 aims at cutting GHG emissions for all ETS sectors by 43% and for all non-ETS sectors by 33% in 2030 (compared to 2005): this corresponds to an overall reduction of 40% compared to 1990 levels. Italy is considering raising the GHG emissions cut target to 60% by 2030 compared to 1990.