According to the Italian power transmission grid operator Terna, Italy’s 2023 electricity consumption fell by 2.8% compared to 2022, with a noticeable decrease in industrial consumption (-3.9% for electricity-intensive industries). Electricity consumption particularly declined in the first half of 2023 and it remained below its previous historical trends.
As for power supply, new installed renewable capacity reached 5.8 GW in 2023, compared to 2.7 GW installed in 2022. There was a significant growth in renewable production in 2023 (+15.4%), which covered 36.8% of electricity demand in 2023, compared to 31% in 2022. All renewables posted a higher generation than in 2022 and hydropower production returned to its previous levels. Thermal power production fell by 17% overall in 2023, with coal-fired production dropping significantly (-42%, due to the end of support measures introduced at the peak of the gas crisis in 2022). The net balance of energy exchanged with other countries also increased significantly (+19.2%) with a 24% drop in exports and a 15% increase in imports.
Italy’s draft updated NECP 2030 (2023) raised the country’s 2030 targets for renewables in final consumption from 30% to 40%, including 65% for electricity (up from 55% in the previous plan).