Energy, from which countries is the energy imported to Italy?
Analysis of energy imports in Italy: main source, renewable growth and increasing foreign dependence
Which countries does Italy import electricity from to meet its needs? Mostly from Switzerland and France, which in 2024 accounted for 43.1% and 41.6% respectively of the inflows into our country, followed by Montenegro (5.7%), Austria (4.8%), Greece (3.7%) and Slovenia (3.1%).
The photograph is included in Deloitte's latest report 'The Power, Utilities & Renewables sector in Italy in 2025'. A study that returns the X-ray of a country in which decarbonisation accelerates, but energy security remains a critical point.
Growth of renewables
Last year, based on Terna data, national electricity production reached 261 TWh, a slight increase compared to 2023 (+2.5%), and renewable sources reached 49% of national electricity production, up sharply compared to 2023 (+14.2%). Fossil sources covered the remaining 51% compared to 56% in 2023 and 64% in 2022. Dependence on foreign sources, however, did not decrease and net imports covered 16.3% of national electricity needs: equal to 51 TWh out of a total of 312 TWh.
Dependence from abroad
Thus, the study points out, solar and wind power show steady momentum, with hydroelectricity a central pillar of Italy's energy mix, progress has not led to a reduction in foreign dependence. On the contrary, between 2020 and 2024, Italy has increased its electricity imports at an average rate of +4.7% per year, reversing the downward trend observed between 2015 and 2019 (-3.8% per year)
"Our study shows that Italy has made concrete progress in decarbonisation, with sustained growth in renewables," commented Claudio Golino, partner and leader of Deloitte's Energy, Resources & Industrials Industry: "However, the increase in energy dependence on foreign countries highlights the need to accelerate the development of grid infrastructure and storage systems, which are essential to ensure the security and resilience of the national electricity system. A transformation of this magnitude will in turn require significant investments, supported by effective and stable policy tools, but also the overcoming of a number of obstacles that, if not decisively addressed, could slow down the pace of the transition.
