From solar panels to the superbonus: Italy leads Europe in energy saving

Italy cut gas consumption by 17 per cent between August 2022 and January 2024, slightly below the EU average of 18 per cent but above the EU-wide demand reduction target of 15 per cent. This is what the European Commission estimates in a report dedicated to Italy in which it takes stock of two years of implementation of the RePowerEu energy plan, proposed by Brussels on 18 May 2022 at the height of the energy crisis fuelled by Russia's war in Ukraine. The document still recalls that 'historically' the country was among the most dependent on Russian gas, with around 40 per cent of supplies coming from Moscow in 2021. In 2022, Italy managed to substantially reduce its dependence to 19% and aims to abandon Russian fossil fuels by 2025.

"Italy is implementing efficiency measures to further contribute to energy security. In 2023, tax deduction schemes for building renovations, energy efficiency and renewables progressed. By the end of 2023, the 110% Superbonus for residential buildings has realised 494,406 energy renovations (of which 26.7% condominium buildings) underlines the EU Commission. The Superbonus budget is included in the chapter 'key energy saving measures'. Among these, Brussels also mentions "Italy's national system of energy saving obligations", i.e. "the white certificates scheme" (these are negotiable securities certifying the achievement of savings in energy end-use through interventions and projects to increase energy efficiency. Editor's note), which recorded 'up to 0.46 Mtoe of final energy savings in 2023, increasing the energy saving obligation by 33% compared to 2022'.

Italy is one of the 'leading clean technology' markets in Europe, hosting a significant number of solar and wind power plants: in terms of production capacity, more than 22% of the photovoltaic panels integrated in buildings come from Italy. This is how the EU summarises Italy's actions in the field of photovoltaics. According to Brussels, Italy is 'among the top two producers in the EU' in photovoltaics.

Acceleration areas for renewables, faster processing of permits and the design of auctions for incentives. Almost two years after the launch of the 'REPowerEu' energy independence plan, the European Commission has adopted a set of recommendations and guidelines to governments - all non-binding - to accelerate the deployment of green energy, which is essential to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. In the updated guidelines, the Commission emphasises the importance of digitalisation for permitting and the selection of areas for accelerating renewables through planning and mapping. Brussels also dwells on the need to harmonise rules for the design of renewable auctions, urging governments to adopt criteria other than price in order to allow the highest value-added projects to be rewarded. To improve coordination, Brussels also updated the auction platform on which EU countries will publish information.