I decrease electricity consumption in September 2022. He communicates it Terna, the company that manages the national transmission grid. Overall, in fact, Italy consumed 25,9 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), 3,9% less than in September 2021. On the other hand, there are no substantial changes compared to last August (-0,2%). Despite the drop in September, the balance sheet for the first nine months of the year remains positive compared to the same loss in 2021 with an increase in energy demand growing by 1,3%.
Leap forward of renewables in Italy
For the first time Terna has included in the monthly report, starting from September, also a new section that illustrates the evolution of the renewable capacity installed in Italy, with the number of plants by source and the relative power divided by month, the progressive from beginning of the year and the 2021 history. Considering all renewable sources, in the first 9 months of 2022 thecapacity increase exceeds a total of 2 thousand MW, recording a significant growth (+140%) compared to the same period of 2021.
Electricity consumption in Italy in September: negative change in all areas
In detail, September had an average monthly temperature approximately 0,7°C lower than in September 2021. The electricity demand figure, seasonally adjusted and adjusted for the effect of temperature, is down by 2,9%.
Territorially, the trend variation in September was negative everywhere: -5% in the North, -3,6% in the Center and -1,5% in the South and on the islands.
Electricity consumption: national production is down, hydroelectric power is down
In September 2022, 86,1% of the Italian electricity demand was met with national production and the remainder (13,9%) with the balance of electricity exchanged with foreign countries. Net national production amounted to 22,6 billion kWh, down by 2,3% compared to September 2021.
The overheated climate and drought had a strong impact on electricity production from renewable sources, which decreased by 2,1% to 8,1 billion kWh. Hydroelectric decreased by 28,3%, geothermal also decreased (-3,9%). On the other hand, wind power +73,6% and photovoltaic +1,7% increased significantly. However, renewables covered about a third of electricity demand in Italy (31,1%).
Also the thermal production overall marks a negative change of 2,4% compared to September 2021.
Finally, the import-export balance: the overall variation is equal to -12,4%, with a simultaneous decrease in imports (-9,3%) and growth in exports (+62%). The growth in exports is mainly due to the convenience, for operators, in the sale of energy on the European market which recorded higher prices than the Italian one.
Industrial consumption improves compared to August
The IMCEI index developed by Terna, which examines the industrial consumption of so-called energy-intensive companies, recorded a drop of 8% compared to September 2021, a much more contained drop than that of August, and not homogeneous between the different monitored sectors. In fact, the change in the chemical and means of transport sectors is positive, while all the other sectors are down.
The detailed analysis of the provisional monthly electricity demand for 2021 and 2022 is available in the publication “Monthly Report on the Electricity System".
