Italy has good prospects for wind and solar energy storage

Does Italy need electricity storage?

As Italy’s energy mix is increasingly composed of variable renewable energy sources, electricity storage will be needed to integrate power generated by renewables into the national grid and make it available when sun and wind energy are not accessible.

How can Italy increase its solar and wind energy capacity?

To achieve these targets, Italy has set ambitious plans to further increase its solar and wind energy capacity. By 2030, Italy aims to produce at least 30% of its total energy from renewable sources, with a significant portion of this coming from solar and wind power.

Why is energy storage important in Italy?

In addition, electricity storage is critical to avoid congestion in the power grid since most of the renewable production originates in Southern Italy but is consumed mostly in the north. Therefore, PNIEC also provides for the installation of new energy storage infrastructure with the aim of reaching 22.5 GW of installed storage capacity by 2030.

How will Italy invest in electricity storage?

Italy will promote investments in utility scale electricity storage to reach at least 70 GWh, and worth over Euro 17 bn, in the next ten years. The new storage capacity will be acquired through tenders published by Terna, the manager of Italy’s high voltage grid. The next tender will be released in 2024.

Why is Italy a good country for solar energy?

The Italian government has implemented a range of incentives, including feed-in tariffs and renewable energy auctions, to support the development of solar and wind projects. As a result, Italy is the fourth largest producer of photovoltaic (PV) cells in the European Union, contributing to both the national and regional energy goals.

What percentage of Italy's electricity comes from solar?

According to Eurostat, approximately 11.6% of Italy’s electricity now comes from solar energy, while 8.8% is generated from wind power, making Italy one of Europe’s leaders in renewable energy. However, these impressive numbers represent just the beginning.