According to Terna, the operator of Italy’s national transmission grid, electricity demand in September 2025 reached 26 billion kWh, up 1.2% compared to September 2024. Adjusted for calendar effects and temperature, the increase was 0.4% year-on-year. Regionally, consumption rose 1.2% in the North, 1.3% in the Center, and 1.1% in the South and Islands.

Industrial electricity demand, measured by Terna’s Monthly Industrial Electricity Consumption Index (IMCEI), grew 2.9% year-on-year, or 2.6% after calendar correction, with sectors such as steel, cement, machinery, ceramics, glass, and food showing positive trends, while paper, non-ferrous metals, and chemicals declined. Seasonally adjusted electricity demand rose 2.8%, with IMCEI up 0.8% on a monthly basis.

Renewables continue to expand

Renewable energy played a central role, covering 40.9% of total electricity demand, up from 39.4% in September 2024. Solar power grew 30.7%, driven by increased installed capacity (+556 GWh) and higher irradiation (+426 GWh). Geothermal rose 1.2%, while hydro (-4.1%), thermal (-2.6%), and wind (-23.4%) decreased.

Italy’s renewable capacity expanded by 4,476 MW in the first nine months of 2025, 4,078 MW of which is solar. Over the last 12 months, photovoltaic and wind capacity increased by 6,576 MW (+13.7%), reaching a total of 54,542 MW.

Electricity supply and imports

Italy’s electricity supply in September was met 85.3% by domestic production and 14.7% by imports, with net imports totaling 3.8 TWh, 5.7% higher than September 2024. From January to September, net imports decreased 8.9% year-on-year.

Energy storage surges

Energy storage capacity reached 17,417 MWh nationwide (+49.3% compared to September 2024), equivalent to 7,069 MW and nearly 849,000 storage systems. Large-scale electrochemical storage produced 176 GWh in September, highlighting the growing role of storage in ensuring system efficiency and reliability. Utility-scale storage capacity increased 2,794 MWh (709.1 MW) from January to September.