Is it realistic to pursue the goal of 35% renewables in Europe for the next few years? What can Italy do? The day after the meeting of the European Energy Council the question arises whether the increase of the previous target from 27 to 35% can be achieved in conditions of mediated competition with the other sources and without too many upheavals. The ministers of the member countries have established that the target must be binding. But good intentions have to deal – again – with the misalignment of national energy policies. It is no coincidence that the European Parliament's proposal for a directive on energy efficiency and the promotion of the use of renewables was 8% lower. The harmonization of supply policies and targeted investments remains central.
Italy's economic development minister, Luigi Di Maio, said the government would set to work to make its voice heard by other European partners. Spain is already consenting. But so that our minister's position doesn't just remain a good statement, it is appropriate not to call into question the framework of the recent National Energy Strategy, the work of previous governments and appreciated by all of Europe. In this regard, the recent words of the President of Confindustria Vincenzo Boccia resound not to dismantle the good things that have been done until 4 March. We have to wait for concrete initiatives. Knowing above all that Italy is not the Cinderella of Europe and that in recent years progress has been made in conversions, monitoring and public investments.
Italian companies, which also made their contribution to the SEN, have put new employment and spending on the table on yesterday's news. The first acceptable estimates, elaborated by Anev, speak of 132.000 jobs and 92 billion euros of financial flows in the EU only with wind energy. There is a legislative hole to fill, however. The implementing decrees for the 2020 environmental objectives, which the Gentiloni government failed to approve, although necessary to regulate the 2017/2020 period. A year of delay which is weighing on the strategies and on the certainty of the money to invest in the processing cycles. Next Wednesday in the European Parliament, the post-2020 environmental objectives will once again be the focus of discussions between countries. We'll see if Italy and Spain will be the real protagonists of a new European eco-compatible season, in some way of "spite" against US policies of total abandonment of renewable energies.
Next Friday in Rome, on the occasion of the world wind day, Anev - Association of wind companies - in collaboration with GSE and Terna, brings together the leading experts to discuss the role of wind energy towards 2030. It will be interesting to understand how the new government intends to manage the renewal of the national wind farm, the simplification of environmental impact procedures, the support for the sector clamored for by President Simone Togni. Only in passing we recall here the appeals against a provision of the Sicilian Region which suspends authorizations for new infrastructures on the island for 120 days. If there are not only good intentions in Rome, they can start from cases like these to pass more ambitious tests.
