La national energy bill of 2022 saw a saving record of 3 billion euros thanks to the interventions of energy efficiency. The Superbonus has certainly opened a chasm in our public accounts, but at least its benefits in terms of the environment are starting to be seen. The data is contained in the 12th Annual Report on Energy Efficiency and the 14th Annual Report on Tax Deductions prepared by ENEA and presented today in Rome.
Italy is thus getting closer to the objectives of the new EU Directive
Enea's estimates were based on the calculation of fewer imports of oil and gas, which resulted in a reduction in CO₂ emissions of approximately 6,5 million tonnes and a saving of just over 2,5 million equivalent tonnes Petroleum (Mtoe), a result that substantially brings Italy closer to the objectives of new Directive on Energy Efficiency.
“The record saving estimated at 3 billion euros is also affected by the strong surge in energy prices, but at the same time it is a sign of the importance that energy efficiency is taking on in our country” says Ilaria Bertini, director of the ENEA Department of Energy Efficiency. “The achievement of the objectives present in the new European directive, characterized by the principle of energy efficiency first, also involves the active involvement of citizens, businesses and professionals".
Two years of new EU rules for the energy transition
Over the last two years, the European Commission has launched a series of legislative actions to support the energy transition and to set more ambitious objectives for the reduction of consumption and the growth of renewable sources. “The Report photographs a year full of geopolitical changes and ongoing European responses” underlines the president of Enea Gilberto Dialuce. “One of the main measures is the 42,5% share of renewables in the European mix with a trend towards 45%, which is a notable commitment.” For the Paris agreements, the president continues, “770 billion dollars a year would be needed, an evidently frightening figure. Giving up energy efficiency means giving up a tool to reduce these investments. In this, Enea acts as a technical entity, providing the necessary support to correctly interpret European directives, adapt them to national specificities and coordinate the efforts of the various entities involved".
Here are the most used tools. The Ecobonus is in the forefront
More than half of energy saving comes from three types of tax deductions: Ecobonus, Home Bonus and Superbonus with a saving of 1,363 Mtoe (54,3% compared to the new 2022 savings), equal to 98,1% of the expected savings according to the trajectories set by the PNIEC for 2023. In addition to these there are the incentives for sustainable mobility, i.e. for less polluting cars, such as electric ones, (16,8% of total savings) and white certificates: financial certificates granted to those who achieve certain energy saving objectives (12,6%) with 0,423 Mtoe ( 16,8%).
The most used tax incentive was the Ecobonus, introduced in 2007. ENEA reports highlight a reduction in interventions in 2022 to just under 940.700 units compared to 1,04 million in 2021, a value which is still double compared to the average value for the 2017-2019 period. The associated investments correspond to 6.823 million euros against the 7.537 million mobilized in the previous year, while the overall savings amount to 2.136 GWh/year, down compared to 2.652 GWh/year in 2021. Most of the interventions concern the installation of Facilities of air conditioning more efficient (3,08 billion euros, 64,7% of interventions) and the replacement of window frames (2,38 billion euros, 20,6% of interventions). Approximately 605 million were also invested for the'thermal insulation of the building, 482 million for the solar shading and around 124 million for the retraining global real estate.
Il House Bonus in 2022 it recorded 508 thousand interventions with a decrease of 42,36% compared to 2021; however, in terms of energy savings the decrease is lower (-10%), going from 925.033 MWh/year in 2021 to 833.294 MWh in 2022, a trend that indicates a qualitative improvement in interventions on the plants.
On the front Super bonus i ENEA data highlight that in December 2022 the total number of projects was 352.101, with 60,76 billion euros of investments eligible for financing, of which 45,2 billion for works already completed, and an overall saving of 9.050,04, 43 GWh/year. Condominiums continued to occupy the largest portion with 39,3%; followed by the types of single-family buildings with 17,8% and functionally independent real estate units present within condominium buildings with XNUMX%.
