Gas consumption up 7% in July. Storage levels exceed 80 per cent

Domestic demand for gas continues to rise following the increases in May and June: in July, consumption stood at 4.4 billion cubic metres, up 7 per cent (+0.3 billion cubic metres) compared with the same period last year. A comparison with July last year confirms the trends already observed in the previous period, highlighting, in particular, the boost from the thermoelectric sector, which grew by 17 per cent (+0.4 billion cubic metres). The heatwave at the end of the month and the simultaneous drop in hydroelectric generation have, in fact, highlighted the vital role played by gas in meeting energy demand at times of greatest need, alongside imports of French nuclear power, confirming the importance of integrating different energy sources. for the stability and reliability of the system. This is the picture provided by Snam’s Polaris Observatory, which will be published today and which also shows a largely stable picture for the residential and commercial sectors, whilst the only slight decline compared with 2025 concerns the industrial sector (-72 million cubic metres; -7 per cent).

Growth in demand is also evident when looking at the period from January to July. Over this period, demand totalled 37.5 billion cubic metres, up on the previous year (+0.4 billion cubic metres; +1 per cent). The decline in the residential and tertiary sectors (-0.2 billion cubic metres; -1%), as well as in other consumption, was in fact offset by a significant increase in the thermoelectric sector (+0.9 billion cubic metres; +6%). The industrial sector, on the other hand, remained broadly in line with 2025 figures (-72 million cubic metres; -1%). Furthermore, the decline in compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle use continues (-6 per cent).

Snam’s analysis also shows that electricity demand in July was the highest in recent years. This was driven by the significant heatwave, which fuelled growth in gas-fired power generation compared with the same month last year (+2.1 terawatt-hours, +18 per cent). Gas therefore helped to meet the increased demand for electricity, accounting for 41 per cent of total demand and, together with imports from abroad, offsetting the decline in hydroelectric power – which has been constant since the start of the year – and in wind power.

As for the volumes of gas fed into the network, in July the figure remained virtually unchanged compared with the same month in 2025 (-12 million cubic metres; -0.2 per cent). The increase in imports from Tarvisio (+0.3 billion cubic metres, attributable to gas market dynamics linked to northern Europe) and from Mazara del Vallo (+0.1 billion cubic metres; +8%) offset the reduction in flows from Passo Gries (-0.1 billion cubic metres; -9%) and in liquefied natural gas (-0.1 billion cubic metres; -7%), which were affected by the consequences of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The system has nevertheless managed to meet the increase in demand, despite the reduced availability of imports, by adjusting the volume of gas injected into storage facilities. To date, storage facilities are at 81 per cent of their capacity, well above the European average (61 per cent), making Italia the EU country with the largest volume of stored natural gas, thereby supporting the security of the system. In the period from January to July, the volume of gas injected into the network was broadly in line with last year’s figure (-0.1 billion cubic metres; -0.3 per cent). LNG imports have risen (+0.2 billion cubic metres; +2%), bolstered in part by the contribution of the new floating regasification terminal in Ravenna, which came into operation in May last year. Furthermore, according to Snam’s overview, the growth in biomethane production continues (+34 per cent compared with 2025), which strengthens the diversification of supplies and progressively integrates renewable gases into the network.