Energy, consumption decreased by 5% in the first half. Weighing downturn in the industry (-10%)

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Despite the sharp decline in prices, the decline in energy consumption continued in the first half of 2023, falling by 5%, after a sharp contraction in the fourth quarter of 2022 (-12%). This is what emerges from the quarterly update of Enea’s analysis of the Italian energy system, which also highlights a new significant drop in carbon dioxide emissions (-9%), which had already fallen between October and December 2022 after six consecutive quarterly increases.

decrease in production

Francesco Gracceva, who takes care of the Enea analysis, explains, “The decline in consumption primarily concerns the civil sector (-12%), mainly due to a decrease in the use of gas for heating, as a result of the administrative and efficiency measures adopted, but above all due to the exceptionally mild climate in the first months of the year, in January in particular”. “The industry also recorded a decrease in consumption (-10%), which is determined in particular by a decrease of up to 20% in production in the sectors dense gas (basic chemicals, paper, non-metallic minerals and steel, Mr. Dr), whose energy consumption is now down more than 5% from 2020. On the other hand, transport consumption is increasing (+3%), with an increase almost entirely concentrated in the first quarter of 2023 and a gradual return to pre-pandemic levels.

5% renewable energy

In terms of energy sources, the decrease in the consumption of gas (-16%) and coal (-15%) was offset by a significant increase in electricity imports (+22%). Renewables for electricity is growing (+5%), with the total share of renewables in final consumption expected to exceed the all-time high of 2020 (20.4%) at the end of 2023.

“Even if the path towards the new target of 40% by 2030 requires significantly more growth,” Gracceva comments. According to Enea estimates, non-programmable renewables (wind and solar) hit a new all-time high in the time period from 13 to 15 on April 10 (Easter), covering more than 80% of demand.

In the first quarter, the decline in energy consumption in Italy was in line with that of the Eurozone, again due to the mild climate and the weak phase of the economies. Even in Europe, in fact, the GDP fell above all due to the decline in industrial activity, especially in the sectors dense gas.