Electricity consumption is decreasing, the use of renewable sources is increasing. This is what emerges from Terna's latest findings, according to which last year, Italian electricity consumption decreased by 2,8% compared to 2022, reaching 306,1 billion kWh. The data relating to renewable sources is more than positive, which last year covered a total of 36,8% of demand, a clear increase compared to 31% in 2022 "thanks to the positive trend contribution of all sources and, in particular, of hydroelectric production, back in line with historical values", we read in the note from the company that manages the national electricity grid which also underlines the trend decline in industrial consumption. The IMCEI index which examines the industrial consumption of approximately 1.000 "energy-intensive" companies, in fact, records a negative change of 3,9% compared to 2022.
Consumption falling in 2023: here's why
“The trend contraction in annual electricity demand (-2,8%) is the result of strong negative variations in the first half of the year which progressively left room for moderate positive variations starting from September”, explains Terna, highlighting that however, this trend is a consequence of comparison with 2022, which had been characterized by a significant reduction in demand in the second half of the year as a consequence of the energy crisis.
“By analyzing the temporal trend of demand it is therefore clear that the reduction observed starting from the second half of 2022 has remained substantially unchanged until today, remaining at levels constantly lower than the previous historical trend", highlights the company.
Renewable production goes up, thermoelectric and coal go down
Regarding the offer, in 2023 there was not only a significant growth in the renewable production (+15,4%), but also a significant increase in the net foreign balance (+19,2%) as a consequence of a sharp decrease in exports (-24,4%) and an increase in imports (+15,2%).
Terna also highlights the "consequent contraction of thermoelectric production (-17,4%) and, in particular, of that a coal (-41,7%)”. The contraction in coal-fired production is also the effect of the interruption, during 2023, of "the initiatives to maximize the use of coal-fired power plants implemented during the most critical period of the gas crisis. Relative to the contraction in thermoelectric production, in 2023 there was also a gas saving compared to last year of approximately 4 billion standard cubic metres", explains the company.
Geographically, demand is decreasing throughout Italy: -4% in the North, -2% in the Center and -0,9% in the South and on the Islands.
Water boom, wind and photovoltaic are also on the rise
Italian electricity demand in 2023 was satisfied by 83,3% with national production and 16,7% by the balance of energy exchanged with foreign countries.
Net national production, equal to 257 billion kWh, fell by 6,4% compared to 2022 with the following breakdown by source: strong growth hydro (+36,1%), wind (+15,1%) and photovoltaic (+10,6%); thermal (-17,4%) and geothermal (-1,9%) decreased.
According to Terna's findings illustrated in the monthly report, "considering all renewable sources, in 2023 there were new activations for approximately 5,8 GW, a value approximately 2,7 GW higher than in 2022. The data underlines the acceleration in development of renewables: in fact we have gone from new activations equal to 1 GW in 2021, to approximately 3 GW in 2022", we read in the note.
