Wind power in Italy: production decreases

In Europe, we're only seventh, with Germany in first place, followed by Sweden, Finland, and France. The reasons for the delays in this type of renewable energy

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wind power in Italy, renewable energy, 2030 agenda, wind farm
Wind energy in Italy: we have the ambitious goal of reaching 27 percent of consumption within a few years. But How much is wind energy worth in Italy? How are investments in this sector progressing? In which regions are there the most plants? Despite so many announcements and promises, the numbers speak for themselves: Italy is only thirteenth in the continent in the ranking of investments made in the wind sector during 2021. These figures do not align with the country's sustainability agenda or international plans. But what is the real context of this?wind power in Italy And where is it in its development? Here's a clear overview of what's happening.

WIND ENERGY IN ITALY

Wind power continues to grow in Europe, but more slowly than planned, and with increasingly diminishing chances of meeting the EU targets of 120 gigawatts by 2030 and 300 gigawatts by 2050. Currently, we are at just 30 gigawatts. Italy is particularly lagging behind other European countries on this arduous journey. According to data from wind EuropeIn 2022, 19 gigawatts of wind power were installed in Europe, with Germany the country with the highest installed capacity, followed by Sweden, Finland, France, and the United Kingdom. Italy is only seventh in this ranking, with wind electricity generation amounting to 20,358 TWh in 2022. This represents a decrease of 1,8 percent compared to 2021.
wind power, wind energy, wind farm in Italy

READ ALSO: The wind energy bluff: plants only announced

WIND ENERGY IN ITALY

Italy would currently be in a position to achieve its 2030 goals for the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy . Unfortunately, slow bureaucratic processes and government maneuvering are hindering the development of wind power in Italy. Italy's wind power capacity stands at 10,93 GW. This is a mediocre result considering that the country has been investing in wind power for over 20 years.

Yet, over the past decade, both investment and authorizations in this regard have suffered a drastic decline, leading to the installation of wind farms , both onshore and offshore, falling short of initial plans. Indeed, according to WindEurope data , the installation of wind turbines is expected to reach a completely different level of power. Specifically, to stay in line with the agenda and the Green Deal , it would be necessary to install something like 8GW per year in Italy alone, yet in the three-year period 2018–2020, just 125 MW were authorized.

WHERE WIND ENERGY IS FOUND IN ITALY

In addition to a clear collapse in wind energy investment, the country is once again divided in two. This time , over 80% of wind farms are located in southern Italy.

The 6 regions with the greatest wind power in Italy:

  • Puglia, 2.674 MW
  • Sicilia, 1.935 MW
  • Campania, 1.745 MW
  • Basilicata, 1.301 MW
  • Calabria, 1.173 MW
  • Sardinia, 1.111 MW

In practice, wind energy is mainly produced in the South of the country and produces approximately 10 GW of power. Only about 1 GW is produced in Central Italy, and a small portion in the North. This excludes regions such as Lombardy , Trentino-Alto Adige , Valle d'Aosta, Veneto , and Piedmont , which, due to the limited number of available plants, together generate less than 40 MW of power. But where is Italy's largest wind farm located?

WHAT IS THE LARGEST WIND FARM IN ITALY?

Italy's largest wind farm has been installed in Sardinia , specifically in the municipalities of Baddusò and Alà dei Sardi, in the province of Sassari. With 69 turbines and a total capacity of 138 MW , the Sardinian facility ranks among the best in Europe. It can contribute approximately 330 GWh annually , helping several communities benefit from clean energy and reducing the approximately 180 tons of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere due to energy production from non-renewable resources.

wind power in Italy

READ ALSO: Renewable energy: In Germany, a municipality powered only by wind, solar, and biogas

WIND ENERGY IN EUROPE

Secondo WindEurope, In Europe, new plants totaling approximately 19 gigawatts of capacity were installed in 2022. 87 percent of this new capacity was onshore, while offshore farms accounted for just 2,5 gigawatts. Under these conditions, and at this rate, it will be impossible to reach the targets set for 2030 and 2050, and wind power currently covers only 17 percent of Europe's electricity consumption.

DISADVANTAGES OF WIND ENERGY

Wind power in Italy is considered a problem by many due to the excessive space it requires, but also due to its strong visual impact and noise pollution . A wind farm, wherever it is built, requires significant funding for installation. Typically, the areas with the highest concentration of wind turbines are far from residential areas, but the sound of the blades travels for hundreds of meters and can be annoying to those living nearby. Furthermore, the turbines create a contrast with the landscape that is often unappreciated.

A case emblematic of this type of risk, after so many devastations we've seen among Puglia's olive groves, comes from Orvieto, where a project is underway for seven wind turbines, two hundred meters high, which could ruin a landscape, including the cathedral, among the most beautiful in central Italy.

WHO IS HOLDING BACK THE DEVELOPMENT OF WIND ENERGY IN ITALY? 

In conclusion, investment and development in wind power in Italy depend directly on politics and excessive bureaucracy in the authorization and installation processes. These two reasons in particular are why our country is experiencing a decline in the sector . The difficulty in advancing projects and political reluctance make it nearly impossible to proceed with national and international plans. Furthermore, the government's latest maneuvers suggest that there may actually be a shift back to coal to address the crisis triggered by Russia. All of this could only lengthen the timeline for implementing the transition to renewables.

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