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(AGENPARL) – lun 22 gennaio 2024 TERNA: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION TOTALLED 306.1 TWh IN
Increase in 2023 with around 5.8 GW of new activations considering all renewables sources
Record production in the year from wind power (23.4 TWh) and photovoltaics (30.6 TWh)
Rome, 22 January 2024 – According to data from the Italian transmission grid operator Terna, in
2023 Italian electricity consumption fell 2.8% compared to 2022, at 306.1 billion kWh. There was an
increase in production from renewable sources, which covered an overall 36.8% of demand last
year, compared to 31% in 2022. This increase is the result of an upward trend for all renewables and
hydroelectric production in particular, which has returned to its previous levels.
Industrial consumption also shows a downward trend. Terna’s IMCEI index, which considers the
industrial consumption of around 1,000 energy-intensive companies, recorded a decrease of 3.9%
compared to 2022.
This downward trend in annual electricity demand (-2.8%) is the result of significant drops in the first
half of the year, which progressively turned into moderate increases from September onwards.
However, this trend results from comparison with the previous year, which saw a significant reduction
in demand in the second half as a consequence of the energy crisis. Analysing the change in demand
over time, it is therefore clear that from the second half of 2022 there has been little change up to
the present, with levels constantly lower than the previous historical trend.
Looking at supply, not only was there significant growth in renewable production in 2023 (+15.4%),
but also a notable increase in the net balance of energy exchanged with other countries (+19.2%)
resulting from a drop in exports (-24.4%) and an increase in imports (+15.2%). The role of
interconnections in this increase should be noted, as a tool enabling efficiency and security of the
electricity system. All of this has meant reduced thermoelectric production (-17.4%) and, specifically,
coal-fired production (-41.7%). This decrease in coal-fired production is also a consequence of
suspension in 2023 of initiatives to maximise the use of coal-burning power plants introduced at the
peak of the gas crisis. Looking at the decrease in thermoelectric production, in 2023 there was also
a gas saving compared to the previous year of approximately 4 billion standard cubic metres.
At the regional level, electricity demand fell across the country: -4% in the North, -2% in Central Italy
and -0.9% in the South and on the Islands. In 2023, 83.3% of Italian electricity demand was met by
national production and the remainder (16.7%) by the balance of electricity exchanged with foreign
countries. Net national production (257 billion kWh) decreased by 6.4% compared to 2022 with the
following breakdown by source: increases in hydroelectric (+36.1), wind power (+15.1%) and
photovoltaic (+10.6%) and decreases in thermoelectric (-17.4%) and geothermal (-1.9%).
Based on Terna data presented in the monthly report, considering all renewables, in 2023 there were
approximately 5.8 GW of new activations, 2.7 GW greater than the figure for 2022. This highlights
the acceleration seen in development of renewable energy. In fact, new activations rose from 1 GW
in 2021 to around 3 GW in 2022. In addition, Terna data indicates around 6 GW in 2023 obtaining
Definitive Minimum Technical Solution status for connection to the national grid.
Moving on to December, electricity demand showed a positive trend (+0.8%) despite two less
working days (18 instead of 20) and an average monthly temperature that was basically aligned (0.1°C) with that of December 2022. The figure adjusted for calendar and temperature effects was
also positive (+1.9%). This increase was not, however, sufficient to bring demand back up to precrisis levels. The short-term figure for December electricity demand, adjusted for seasonal, calendar
and temperature effects was also positive, with an increase on November (+0.8%).
At the regional level, December 2023 saw a decrease in the North (-0.8%), but an increase both in
Central Italy (+1.2%) and in the South and Islands (+4%). As much as 81.8% of electricity demand
in Italy was met by national production and the remainder (18.2%) by the balance of electricity
exchanged with foreign countries. Renewable sources covered 34.5% of monthly demand (27.6%
in December 2022). Net national production (20.5 billion kWh) decreased by 7.7% compared to
December 2022 with the following breakdown by source: wind power (+42.1%), photovoltaic
(+41,1%), hydroelectric (+40.3%), thermoelectric (-22.1%) and geothermal (-0.4%).
With regard to the import/export balance, the value was up by 69.9% due to the effect of an increase
in imports (+48.3%) and a decrease in exports (-39%).
The IMCEI index recorded an increase of +2.1% in industrial consumption in December 2023
compared to December 2022. Engineering, cement, lime and gypsum, steel, paper and
transportation recorded an increase, while non-iron metals, ceramics and glass, food and chemicals
recorded a decrease. Adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects, there was a decrease of -2.3%
compared to the previous month.
A detailed analysis of provisional 2023 monthly electricity demand is available in the publication
“Monthly
Report
Electricity
System”,
under
section
“Electric
System>>Dispatching>>Operating Data” at http://www.terna.it
Real-time data on the operation of the national electricity system can also be found on the Terna
app, available on all app stores:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.terna.energia&hl=it