In March 2025, according to data released by Terna, electricity requirement in Italy it has stood at 25,5 billion in kWh, marking a decline in the 0,9% compared to the same month in 2024. The decline is part of a context of relatively favorable climatic conditions: March had temperatures on average 1°C lower compared to the same month last year, but still higher than the average of the last ten yearsThe number of working days, however, remained unchanged (21).
A more detailed reading, which takes into account the deseasonalization and the temperature effect, shows a 1,5% contraction of electricity demand. At a territorial level, all the macro-areas are recording a negative trend: the North part with a decrease in 0,7%, Centro and -0,5% and South and the Islands with a more marked decline (-1,7%).
In first quarter of 2025, the overall national requirement is reduced by 0,7%, given that it is also affected by the comparison with a leap year. Corrected for the calendar effect, the value remains substantially stable (+0,1%).
Energy-intensive industry under pressure
THEImcei index by Terna, which measures the electricity consumption of energy-intensive companies, records a 2,9% trend decline in March 2025 compared to the same month of the previous year. Adjusted for calendar and temperature, the decline widens to 3,7%.
La Sectoral performance is however varied: the food, cement, lime and plaster, and mechanical sectors are showing positive signs, while strategic sectors such as chemicals, non-ferrous metals, ceramics and glass, means of transport and above all the steel industry remain in difficulty.
From a cyclical perspective, however, some positive signals emerge: the Imcei index for March records a + 1,3 % compared to February, while the first quarter of 2025 shows a growth of 2,4% on the previous quarter, signaling a possible reversal of the trend, at least in terms of industrial activity.
Home-produced energy, but less renewable
In the monthly electricity balance, the national production he covered the 84,6% of the question, while the remainder 15,4% was satisfied through the energy exchanged with foreign countries. The foreign balance it is attested to 3,9 TWh, in sharp decline compared to March 2024 (-25,9%), due to the sharp slowdown in imports from Switzerland (-50%).
National net production reached 22 billion in kWh, of which the 39% from sources renewable, down from 42,3% a year earlier. The details of the sources paint a contrasting picture: strong growth in PV (+ 23,8 %) and the generation thermal (+ 18,6 %), while the decline of the continueshydroelectric (-33,6%), of theAeolian (-7,2%) – in the third consecutive month of decline – and of the geothermal (-2,4%).
Despite the fluctuating trend of renewable production, in March the 777 MW of new green capacity, equal to a + 52 % compared to March 2024. However, overall in the first quarter of 2025, new installed is in decrease of 13% compared to the same period last year, for a total of 1.596 MW.
Finally, the growth continues energy storage park: as of March 31, Italy had 13.682 MWh of capacity, with 5.913 MW of nominal power distributed over approximately 775.000 storage systems.
