Renewables and grid infrastructure for national energy security
The cost of energy from wind and photovoltaic sources is the most competitive in absolute terms
It is surprising how, in the Italian public debate, renewable energies are sometimes marginalised or considered unreliable, when they represent not only an essential element for achieving the 2030 and 2050 sustainability goals, but also a driver of competitiveness for our industrial system. Today, this is burdened by an energy cost that is twice as high as in France and 50 per cent higher than in Germany, and is also a burden on our households. It is an established fact that the cost of energy from wind and photovoltaic sources is currently the most competitive in absolute terms, and that these sources are indispensable in view of the inevitable growth in demand for electricity resulting from the spread of electric vehicles and data centres.
At the same time, we cannot ignore how our energy dependence on third countries, particularly for gas supplies, represents an element of structural vulnerability. The crisis triggered by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the consequent interruption of hydrocarbon supplies has highlighted how much the current system exposes Italy to major geopolitical risks, with alternatives to Russian gas - especially LNG imported from the Arabian Gulf and the US - inevitably more expensive. However, this does not mean renouncing gas, which still represents our country's main energy source.
Comparisons with other countries arise naturally. While facing complex domestic challenges, the British government, for example, has presented an industrial strategy outlining a clear plan to achieve energy security. In Germany, the share of renewable energy in electricity production has reached 60 per cent, while in Italy it stands at 40 per cent. At the same time, these countries have started electricity grid modernisation processes. In Italy, despite its peninsular nature and the large availability of offshore and onshore wind resources (think of the Apennine ridge), only 8% of electricity production comes from wind, compared to 30% in the UK and similar percentages in Germany.
It is therefore urgent to promote preparatory measures to strengthen energy production capacity from renewable sources, accompanied by targeted interventions on the front of interconnections and the strengthening of Italy's role in new energy exchange mechanisms with neighbouring countries. Suffice it to recall the virtuous example of the exchange of British renewable energy with French nuclear energy or the energy triangle created between Denmark, Germany and Great Britain.
Italy has all the industrial competences and technological capabilities to take a leading role in this transformation. However, this requires a far-reaching vision and a coherent industrial policy aimed at enhancing national excellence and directing public and private resources towards the development of enabling infrastructures.
