"Brilliant Green: The rise of Renewable Energy in the Italian Market"

2022 has been defined as the golden year for renewable energy in Italy, marking notable progress towards the objectives set for 2030. Thanks to the support provided by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), the renewables sector has saw a surge in power, exceeding 38.9 GW, almost tripling the 15 GW of 2021. This development triggered investments of 41 billion euros across 958 operations, more than double compared to the previous year.

One of the protagonists of this growth was agrivoltaics, with 390 initiatives representing a power of 15.8 GW and investments of 12 billion euros. At the same time, onshore wind energy has attracted 184 initiatives, totaling 10.6 GW and 14.2 billion euros in investments. Offshore wind and energy storage systems are also emerging, the latter with a recorded capacity of around 898 MW, up 91% compared to 2021.

In 2023, the positive trend continues. In the first quarter, Italy recorded a total of 980 megawatts of new installed renewable power, an increase of 116% compared to the same period in 2022. Electricity demand in the country was covered for just over 37% by renewable sources , marking an increase of 5% compared to the same period of the previous year.

Forecasts indicate that renewable energy will continue to expand, with significant growth expected in the wind and photovoltaic sectors. Italy is also preparing to break new records, with renewable energy replacing a significant amount of the EU's annual building-related gas consumption in 2023 and 2024.

Green hydrogen is another promising area, with 115 initiatives launched in 2022, involving over 150 different actors in the Italian landscape. These initiatives are divided between end uses (47%), production (32%), integrated supply chain and Hydrogen Valley initiatives (9%) and transportation/storage (5%).

To further illustrate the importance and innovation in the renewable energy sector, you might consider including an image depicting the different renewable technologies in Italy, such as the one available on Green Planner.

Italy is clearly gaining ground in the renewable energy sector, and the future looks even greener. With continued commitment from industry stakeholders and support from government policies, Italy is well positioned to meet and exceed its 2030 renewable energy targets.