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There are 386,039 storage systems installed in Italy, for a total power of 3,045 MW and a maximum capacity of 4,893 MWh. Numbers driven by Lombardy (75,719 installations for a power of 583 MW and a capacity of 930 MWh), followed by Veneto (53,654 installations for 414 MW and 722 MWh) and Emilia-Romagna (38,690 installations for 307 MW and 470 MWh) . These are the data from the Storage Systems Observatory of Anie Confindustria, updated to 30 June last year. Although the trend change in the first half of 2023 shows a +100% compared to the number of installations in 2022, the economic change between the first and second quarters of 2023 shows a market slowing down by -19%. In particular, the 2030 Future Electricity Plan, which calculates an 84% penetration of renewables in the energy mix, provides for the installation of 80 GWh of new large-scale storage capacity. And also in terms of plants for the production of energy from renewable sources, Italy is late in reaching the European objectives.
Insufficient growth
That a decisive push is needed was underlined by the president of Anie Confindustria Filippo Girardi, who spoke on 29 February at Key Energy, the energy fair in Rimini, at the event “Accumulations and Networks: enablers of the energy transition in Italy”, promoted by the same association with Elettricità Futura.
«The availability in our country of an excellent technological offer on the electricity supply chain today fits into a scenario of major delays in the path towards decarbonisation. The latest available data show still insufficient growth in the installation of new production plants from renewable sources. During 2023, 5,677 MW came into operation, a robust increase compared to 2022 (2,927 MW, +94%), but not even half of what would be needed to achieve the European decarbonisation objectives by 2030, i.e. approximately +10 GW per year. year”, explained Girardi.
Slow authorization processes
Among the reasons for the delays, the first is undoubtedly that of the authorization processes. From the analysis of the Via Observatory (Environmental Impact Assessment) of Anie Rinnovabili it is noted that as of 30 June 2023 the Via procedures filed with the offices of the Ministry of the Environment consist of projects for a total of 68,220 MW, an increase of +142% compared to to 2022, but unfortunately only 5.2% of these have reached conclusion, confirming uneven timing between the Ministry of Culture and that of the Environment and Energy Security.
«Depending on this scenario – continued Girardi – the first need is to make up for Italy’s delay in the energy transition due primarily to the excess of bureaucracy that has stopped new projects. The authorization system in Italy does not work as it should, extending the time needed to build the large plants needed to reach renewable targets. The energy transition, as well as an imperative in the path to sustainability, represents an economic engine that can stimulate innovation and industrial development, job creation, economic growth and social progress. Public-private collaboration is crucial to overcome challenges and international cooperation is essential to share knowledge, resources and technologies.”