Share of renewable energy in final energy consumption

The share of renewable energy in gross final consumption has been increasing in Italy since 2005. The share more than doubled between 2005 and 2023, mainly due to the increase in renewable energy in the power sector and in heating and cooling [1]. The lower energy demand during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 increased the renewable energy share.

Concerning the EU targets, Italy surpassed the 2020 target (17%), with a share of 20.4%. The level in 2023, calculated in accordance with Directive (EU) 2018/2001, was 19.6%, showing a slight increase compared with 2022 (19.1%). The 2030 target set under the Renewable Energy Directive is 38.7%. The policy scenario issued in the NECP [2] indicates that Italy should surpass the target, with a share of 39.4%. Such results require a robust acceleration of renewable energy in final energy consumption. From 2005 to 2023, the share increased by around 0.7 percentage points per annum (from 7.5% to 19.6%), while the increase required to achieve the 2030 target is around 2.7 percentage points per annum between 2023 and 2030 (from 19.6% to 38.7%). This means that the growth rate should be four times higher than what has been registered in the past.