Pichetto Fratin: from nuclear power up to 22% of electricity demand by 2050

About fusion, will there be room for a first plant in Italy too?

There may be some chance by 2045 if the ongoing research into compact reactors worldwide bears fruit, as is widely expected. But this is for now little more than a wish, also because there is still nothing at market production level.

How will that contribution indicated by the two scenarios be guaranteed?

In the medium term (post-2030), the possible resumption of nuclear energy use will be based on the sustainable nuclear technologies under development, in particular small modular fission reactors, and, in the long term, as mentioned above, on fusion energy, in a bid to complement the increasing penetration of renewable energy generation and other low-carbon forms of energy.

In the Pniec, the expected power output from wind energy is expected to double by 2030 (from 11,290 to 28,140 megawatts, including 2,100 MW from offshore technologies) compared to 2021 figures. Is this a feasible goal?

What we are aiming for in the next few years is offshore wind power made up of large platforms positioned a long way from the coast. We have made a decree and ports are being identified, the next step is to create the conditions, but I do not see a concrete start before 2027-2028.

The costs, however, remain enormous. 

This is certainly an issue that needs to be examined and a contribution to this can be made by research, which must try to identify the most economically viable technological alternatives.

We remain on the issue of costs, but related to photovoltaics. Industry associations, downstream of the Eligible Areas and Agriculture decrees, are complaining about increasing outlays due to regulatory uncertainty. What is your position?

We are a peculiar country from an orographic point of view and we do not have huge spaces to occupy. The government's choice, therefore, was to prohibit the installation of ground-mounted photovoltaics, but to allow agri-voltaics (systems suspended from the ground, ed), the costs of which have decreased over time anyway. So there will be an evaluation of the costs, and at the appropriate time there will also be a reflection on the incentives.

Is there not a risk that the Dl suitable areas will generate a Babel of rules?

I am convinced that the governors will play their role to the best of their ability, and I hope that their strategies will be linked in the overall design precisely to avoid the danger you fear. To this I would also add that, once all the necessary steps have been completed, the Ddl on the simplification of renewables, which has been drafted together with the Ministries of Reforms and the Public Administration, will reach the Cdm before mid-month.

Let's turn to the chapter on cutting emissions in the new Pniec: significant criticalities emerge for the Esr sectors (primarily transport and civil). How do you plan to reverse this trend?

The most complex situation is that of transport, where there is a fleet of vehicles that moves mainly by road and is rather old. Therefore, the change of pace will focus on greater use of electric vehicles - the plan envisages 6.5 million vehicles by 2030, of which 4.3 million pure and 2.2 million plug-in hybrid electrics -, but hydrogen and biofuels will also play an increasing role.

In civil society, there is talk of a reform of tax bonuses. What measures will be put in place?

We have to accompany the efficiency increase in the residential sector with more punctual actions in relation to budgetary capacity so that there is no further bleeding from the state as with the 110%. It is a question of finding the most balanced mix to achieve the final goal.

On 30 June, greater protection for non-vulnerable customers will expire. Are there new extensions around the corner?

That step represents an objective set out in black and white in the NRP, so there is no room for backtracking, nor is it conceivable, having tendered for the new service with gradual safeguards, to change the cards on the table, generating new uncertainty for operators and users.

Your ministry's opinion is expected on the Mimit implementing decree setting incentives for the Industry 5.0 plan. Is it ready?

Yes, and we have already sent it, making only a few technical remarks about the bodies that must quantify and certify the energy savings achieved by companies and the investments in renewable sources to be included in the incentives (specifically, thermal Fer).