For the second consecutive year, the demand for electricity in Italy is declining. The first provisional data processed by Terna on electricity needs in the year that has just ended show a drop of 3,4% compared to 2012, which in turn closed with a drop of 1,9% on 2011. In terms This is the largest drop since the beginning of the century after that of 2009, when the decrease on the previous year was equal to 5,7%.
The total energy demand in Italy in 2013 amounted to 317,1 billion kilowatt hours. On a like-for-like calendar basis, the decrease is 3,1% in consideration of the fact that 2012 had one more working day due to a leap year.
As regards the month of December 2013, the quantity of electricity required in Italy, equal to 26,1 billion kWh, recorded a decrease of 2,2% compared to December last year. Adjusted for temperature and calendar effects, the change in electricity demand in December 2013 becomes -2%.
At the territorial level, the most significant declines are recorded in Sardinia (-16,4%) and in the North-West macro-area (-7,8%) which includes Liguria, Piedmont and Valle d`Aosta.
According to initial estimates, in 2013 the demand for electricity was met for 86,7% with national production (of which 56,8% thermoelectric, 16,5% hydroelectric, 1,7% geothermal, 4,7% wind and 7,0% photovoltaic) and for the remaining portion (13,3%) from the balance of energy exchanged with foreign countries. In detail, net national production (277,4 billion kWh) decreased by 3,6% compared to 2012. Hydroelectric production sources increased (+21,4%), photovoltaic (+18,9%) , wind (+11,6%) and geothermal (+1,0%); on the other hand, the thermoelectric source decreased (-12,0%).
In December 2013, 86,3% of the demand for electricity was met by national production (-1,8% of net production compared to December 2012) and the remainder (13,7%) by the balance of energy traded with foreign countries (-5% compared to December 2012). In detail, net national production (22,7 billion kWh) fell by 1,8% compared to December 2012. In particular, the source of photovoltaic production is still growing (+27,1%) while the wind source decreased (-36,9%). The water and thermal sources remained substantially unchanged. In economic terms, the seasonally adjusted change in electricity demand in December 2013 compared to the previous month (November 2013) was zero. The trend profile remains negative.
