In Italy, between 2018 and 2030, energy companies will invest around 96 billion euros for the development, maintenance or renovation of primary energy infrastructures. Of this sum, the largest share will be allocated to renewable electricity (29,2 billion). This will be followed, in order, by investments in the electricity network (14,1 billion), gas network (12,5 billion), refining and biohydrocarbons (10,9 billion), hydrocarbon production (10,9 billion), biomethane (8 billion), electricity storage (4,3 billion), LNG and LPG gas storage (3,9 billion) and T-Gas generation (2,3 billion). The data is contained in the study "Energy infrastructures, environment and territory" created by Confindustria Energia and presented on Tuesday in Rome.
Confindustria Energia brings together all the most important associations in the sector (Assomineraria, Elettricità Futura, Anev, Unione Petrolifera and so on) and it is a sign that it wanted to present its project, calling its most important industries such as Snam and Terna to the podium, presence of the Minister for European Affairs, Paolo Savona. It is a signal because it indicates the will to mobilize as much as possible the companies committed to investment plans of almost one hundred billion and capable of tripling the return for the community over the period. Not an easy bet in a sector that often comes up against the resistance of local administrations and just as, in Parliament, the 5 Star Movement is working to block - with the so-called anti-drilling amendment to be included in the Simplifications decree - the search for hydrocarbons after the latest authorizations granted in the Ionian Sea. However, the bet has an important ally on its side: the CDP, represented at the Rome conference by Luca D'Agnese, head of the Infrastructures department of the Cassa. But let's see in detail the project presented by Confindustria Energia.
"The cost of the investments will be borne by market operators, both regulated and unregulated - reads the analysis - without any effect on the national public debt". On the other hand, on GDP, "an additional impact is expected that will progressively increase from 0,3% in 2018 to 0,9% in 2030, net of indirect taxes, royalties and concession fees". The total added value is calculated at 305 billion, of which 142 before and 263 after 2030. As for the consequences on employment, the study speaks of 140 thousand more working units per year between 2018 and 2030 and another 35 thousand after 2030.
THE ITALIAN ENERGY MIX
The investment program is part of the ongoing transformation of the Italian energy mix. At the moment, our country is in line with the EU 20-20-20 objectives, the European strategy which, by the end of next year, should lead the Union to reduce CO20 emissions by 1990% compared to 2, to satisfy 20% of energy needs with renewables and to reduce consumption by 20%, increasing efficiency.
In 2017, in Italy, 36% of energy came from natural gas, 34% from oil and 19% from renewable sources. However, the share of imported energy was 76%, a much higher level than the 58% EU average.
THE GROWTH OF RENEWABLES
In his speech at the presentation of the study, Terna's CEO, Luigi Ferraris, pointed out that in the decade 2008-2018 the installed wind power capacity in Italy grew from 3,5 to 10,1 GW, while that relating to photovoltaics even rose from 0,4 to 20,1 GW. The problem is that, at the same time, the reserve margin, i.e. the generation capacity exceeding the power demand, fell from 25% in 2013-2014 to 7% in 2017-2018, after reaching a minimum of 5 % in 2016 (a margin considered safe is above 7% of peak consumption).
"The Italian strategy aims to reach 30% of energy produced from renewables by 2030 - said Ferraris - This entails, over the period, an increase in the installed capacity of renewable energy generation of 40 thousand megawatts".
LESS COAL, MORE GAS
As for coal, Italy's goal is to abandon it by 2025. "To reduce CO2 emissions, gas is the cheapest way - he underlined Marco Alverà, CEO of Snam – Converting a coal-fired power plant to gas is the least expensive option, even if this does not mean that other paths for decarbonisation should not be followed”.
Italian gas consumption has returned to growth in recent years, but is also increasingly dependent on imports. In 2017, almost 74,7 billion cubic meters of gas were consumed in Italy (4,3 billion more than in 2016), of which 69 were imported (+4 on the year). Flows arriving from Russia increased (+6,5%), which with 30 billion cubic meters is by far our leading supplier. Followed by Algeria (18,8 billion, stable over the year after the +160% recorded in 2016) and the Norway-Netherlands coupling, from where the gas arrives in Italy via Transitgas (+7,8%, to 7,2 billion). On the other hand, the cubic meters of gas from Libya decreased (-3,5%, to 4,6 billion).
"The population growth - explains Alverà - pushes the North African countries to consume more and more gas, progressively reducing the share destined for exports".
