The growth in electricity consumption in March in Italy is confirmed. And at Easter, Italy takes a leap into the future with a absolute record of renewable sources Network. According to data from Terna, the company that manages the national transmission grid, we consumed 27,3 billion kWh of electricity with an increase of 3,5% compared to the same month in 2021 and in line with that of February 2022 .
Looking then at the quarter that has just ended, Italian electricity demand increased by 2,6% compared to the first quarter of 2021 (+2% the adjusted value).
Going into detail, the working days of the period (23) were identical in number from one year to the next, the average monthly temperature was instead lower by about 0,7°C in 2022 compared to March 2021.
The electricity demand figure, seasonally adjusted and corrected for calendar and temperature effects, is up 2,7%. At a territorial level, the trend change in March 2022 was positive everywhere: +3,5% in the North, +3,8% in the Center and +3,3% in the South and on the islands. In economic terms, the value of electricity demand, seasonally adjusted and adjusted for calendar and temperature effects, is in line (-0,3%) with that of February this year.
Source: Terna press release
Terna electricity consumption: more renewables
In March 2022, 87% of the Italian electricity demand was met with domestic production and the remainder (13%) with the balance of electricity exchanged with foreign countries.
Net national production amounted to 24 billion kWh (+7,7%). Production from renewable sources is progressing, covering 29% of the total requirement thanks to the leap (+10,2%). The energy produced by thermoelectrics is on the rise. (+21,8%). Geothermal (-0,2%), photovoltaic (-3,5%) ones are decreasing.
Hydroelectric production was practically halved (-48,2%), "due to the effect of the scarce rainfall - notes Terna - which characterized the period and which have been causing, for some months now, filling levels of the reservoirs close to the minimum values recorded in the last 50 years". As regards the import-export balance, the change is equal to -18,4% due to the combined effect of an increase in exports (+14,5%) and a decrease in imports (-16,8% ), a phenomenon already observed in the previous months.
Terna electricity consumption: 89% of renewables at Easter
During the Easter holidays, when industries and the tertiary sector drastically reduce electricity requests, the days from Saturday 16 to Monday 18 April 2022, renewable sources covered on average more than half of the Italian electricity demand: Terna in fact recorded, in the days from Saturday 16 to Monday 18 April 2022, a percentage of green electricity that stood at 52,9% (a value that rises to 59,1% if compared to national production alone). In particular, on Easter day (April 17, 2022) the country's electricity needs were met by renewables for 60,3%, with an hourly peak (between 14 pm and 00 pm) of 15 %, the highest value in recent years and mainly due to the high photovoltaic and wind production.
Terna electricity consumption: industry
Terna's data crosses those on the trend of industrial production, confirming a decrease compared to February 2022 but with significant differences between sectors. The IMCEI index developed by Terna, which examines the industrial consumption of so-called 'energy-intensive' companies, records substantial stability (+0,3%) compared to March 2021 and a decrease (-2,7%) compared to February 2022 (data seasonally and calendar-adjusted). The findings of the food, chemical and building materials sectors were positive, while consumption was down in the non-ferrous metals, paper and iron and steel sectors. In the first quarter of 2022, the monthly index of industrial consumption, with seasonally adjusted values and adjusted for calendar effects, shows a slight decrease (-0,4%) compared to the last quarter of 2021.
In conclusion, for those wishing to deepen the detailed analysis of the provisional monthly electricity demand for 2021 and 2022, it is available in the publication "Monthly Report on the Electricity System", which can be consulted under the heading "Electrical system >> Dispatching >> Operating data" of Terna site.
