Italy's renewable energy sector has achieved unprecedented growth in 2024, with 6 GW of new renewable capacity installed in the first ten months of the year, exceeding the total for all of 2023, according to Terna, the national transmission system operator.

In October, Italy's electricity demand reached 25.5 billion kWh, nearly unchanged from October 2023 (+0.2%). This result reflects the impact of one extra working day compared to the previous year and cooler average temperatures (-1.4°C). After adjusting for calendar and temperature effects, demand increased by 0.6%.

Regional trends and national context

Electricity consumption showed mixed regional trends:

• +1% in Northern Italy
  
  
• -0.2% in Central Italy
  
  
• -1.4% in Southern Italy and the islands
  
  

Nationally, cumulative demand for the first ten months of 2024 grew by 2.3% (+1.4% adjusted) compared to the same period in 2023.

Renewable energy surge

Renewables played a critical role in meeting demand, supplying 41.2% of October’s electricity (up from 35.3% in October 2023) and 42.8% over the first ten months of 2024 (up from 37% in 2023). Key developments include:

• A 56% surge in hydropower production
  
  
• A 30 GWh increase in solar energy, despite reduced sunlight, thanks to an additional 507 GWh from new capacity
  
• Declines in wind power (-26.5%) and geothermal energy (-4.8%)
  
  

The total installed renewable capacity reached 75.2 GW as of October 31, with solar (35.8 GW) and wind (12.9 GW) leading the way. Italy exceeded its 2024 renewable capacity target of 16.1 GW two months early, with 16.2 GW installed since 2021.

Storage and data innovations

Energy storage also saw rapid expansion. By October 31, 707,000 installations were recorded, totaling 11,783 MWh of capacity. High-voltage systems alone added 616 MW in 2024.

Terna has launched a new data portal to provide real-time and historical insights into Italy’s electricity production, demand, and transmission systems, reinforcing its role in driving the country’s energy transition.

Industrial and service sector performance

The IMCEI index, tracking energy-intensive industries, showed a 2.3% decline in October compared to the previous year. However, sectors such as paper, non-ferrous metals, and food production performed positively. In contrast, the IMSER index for services demonstrated robust growth (+7.6%), reflecting an increasingly stable upward trend.

A cleaner future

The shift from thermal energy continued, with coal production falling by 30.1% in October year-on-year. Overall, the national electricity grid relied 83.7% on domestic production and 16.3% on imports, a slight decrease in net imports compared to 2023.

As Italy accelerates toward its energy transition goals, Terna's latest data highlights the nation’s commitment to renewable energy and innovation, positioning it as a leader in sustainable energy development in Europe.