Renewable energies: future trends and objectives

After the COP21 Paris Agreement, where 195 countries signed their commitment to reduce greenhouse gases, the interest towards renewable energies is growing more and more. The conversion trend to green energy has solidly began: nevertheless the “king” of energy sources, i.e. oil, is running out. The transition won’t be fast and without difficulties, but, thanks to States and institutions’ commitment towards decarbonisation, it can be forecasted that in 2025 electric vehicles will grow up to 30 million, a number  that will increase to 150 million in 2040, cutting consistently world oil consumption (-1,3M barrels per day). Majors are mobilizing right now: Shell (the second world major after Exxon) clearly stated its intention to invest in renewable energy plants. Last Spring the French company Total purchased Saft, which produces batteries to stock solar energy; more or less in the same period Eni announced the will to build its first solar plants.

Green economy in Italy

Italy is no stranger to this green revolution: in Italy the growth of renewable energy sources has led to the contribution of renewable energy on total energy consumption from 15 to 35,5% in 10 years, thanks to 850,000 plants distributed North to South, in inland areas and big cities. Despite the new instalments slowdown in the past years, Italy today is the first country in the world for incidence of solar plants on electric consumption. In fact it detains some of the most interesting innovation experiences worldwide, whose protagonists are local communities and firms. Not to mention the fact that decarbonisation may be a chance for the country to boost its economy, given its strong dependence for fossil sources supply from foreign countries.

In 10 years the number of municipalities where at least one renewable energy plant has been installed increased from 356 to 8047: this means that in every Italian municipality there is now installed at least one plant, with a constant progression through the years (3,190 in 2008; 6,993 in 2010; 7,970 in 2012). Sources diversification continues, but now8,045 Italian municipalities have photovoltaic solar plants on their territory (100% of the municipal territories in the Italy) accounting for 18,960 MW.

It’s time for smart investors

Nevertheless, the Italian scenario is not equally positive concerning investments in renewable energies. In 2015 the rhythm of new instalments slumped. In the last two years, after the end of “conto energia” the number of new photovoltaic plants significantly reduced. In 2015 305MW were installed in Italy, less than 1/5 of the German amount and 1/10 of those launched in England. The potential of such plants in Italy is very important, with interesting growth opportunities. Currently there are a total of 686,000 plants in the country, +35,000 on last year. With an electric energy production of 24,000 GWh, photovoltaic plants satisfy 8.1% of the national electric consumption, which corresponds to the needs of over 9.1 million families, avoiding the release of over 14.8 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Virtuous examples               

1,420 Italian municipalities are virtuous examples of the green revolution, as the electric Energy production coming from photovoltaic plants overcomes the needs of their residential households: mostly small communities, but also big cities like Ravenna, Foggia and Brindisi, involving over 4,2 million inhabitants.