13 questions about energy storage in italy

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.

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.

Are battery energy storage systems needed in Italy?

Therefore, battery energy storage systems (BESS) are needed in Italy. The Italian market for BESS is growing rapidly and currently amounts to 2.3 GW but it almost exclusively consists of residential scale systems, associated with small scale solar plants, having a capacity of less than 20 kWh.

What is Italy's energy storage structure?

Italy’s energy storage structure is also dominated by residential storage, which accounts for more than 80% of new installations. In December 2023, the EU greenlit Italy’s energy storage program, earmarking a hefty investment of €17.7 billion.

How many storage systems are there in Italy?

More in detail, 311,189 storage systems were present in Italy in mid- 2023, with a total power of 2,329 MW and a maximum capacity of 3,946 MWh. Terna (the high voltage grid operator) also holds systems totaling 60 MW in power and 250 MWh in capacity.

How much will Italy's energy storage program cost in 2023?

In December 2023, the EU greenlit Italy’s energy storage program, earmarking a hefty investment of €17.7 billion. This initiative is anticipated to facilitate the construction of over 9GW/71GWh of energy storage systems (ESS).