Italy’s remarkable achievement in reaching a record 41% renewable energy share in its power demand by 2024 illustrates the country’s commitment to sustainable energy practices and reducing its carbon footprint. The surge was driven predominantly by tremendous strides in hydropower and solar photovoltaic (PV) generation. Hydropower saw a staggering 30% growth, while solar PV increased by 19%, efficiently offsetting declines in other renewable energy sources such as wind (down 5.6%) and geothermal (down 0.8%).
Further bolstering Italy’s renewable energy portfolio was the reduction in coal usage, which plummeted by an impressive 71%. This reduction in reliance on coal contributed significantly to the rise in renewable energy’s share of the market. Italy’s net national production of electricity grew by 2.7%, and with domestic production meeting 84% of the nation’s electricity demand, it became clear that Italy was moving towards greater energy independence. The country also remained active in the energy exchange with foreign nations, witnessing a 48% surge in exports and a more modest 2.4% increase in imports, demonstrating its evolving role in the international energy market.
The integration of substantial new renewable power capacity was crucial to achieving this milestone. Italy added 7,480 MW of new renewable power capacity in 2024, increasing the total capacity to 76.6 GW. This included 37.1 GW from solar and 13 GW from wind power. Additionally, Italy’s energy storage capabilities were substantially enhanced with the installation of over 2.1 GW of new storage capacity, bringing the nominal power of storage to 5,565 MW and total storage capacity to 12,942 MWh. This growth in storage capacity helped balance the variability associated with renewable energy sources, ensuring a stable and reliable power supply.
In conclusion, Italy’s achievement of a 41% renewable energy share in 2024 demonstrated a significant step toward sustainable energy production. The increase in renewable energy generation and capacity, coupled with a substantial decline in coal usage, highlighted Italy’s efforts in combating climate change. By enhancing domestic production and improving storage capacity, Italy set an example for other nations aiming to increase their renewable energy shares and reduce their carbon footprints in the coming years.
