Italy increases RE targets, says 65 percent of power from clean sources by 2030

Italy has increased renewable energy targets for the decade, adding to the targets the country made public three years ago, although the statement issued did not explain how the higher targets would be achieved.

Energy minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said the country plans generate 65 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030, up from the earlier target of 55 percent.

Renewables will cover 40 percent of gross energy consumption across sectors by 2030, the minister said, up from 30 percent in the old plan. The plan forecasts renewables will provide 37 percent of consumption in case of heating and air conditioning, and 31 percent of consumption in the transport sector.

Italy envisages green hydrogen – the kind produced without carbon emissions – fulfilling 42 percent of the country's industrial requirements by 2030.

European authorities have asked member states to submit updated strategies that align with the continental bloc's Fit-for-55 and REPowerEU energy packages which include binding energy goals.

The continent's energy ministers have been wrangling over laws to a common power market as part of a plan to shift the continent's electricity system towards cleaner energy and avoid an electricity shortage. Progress stalled after member nations are split over the issue of subsidy to coal-fired power plants.

Experts assess European consumers will save €100 billion because of renewable energy, with models showing electricity prices would have been 15 percent higher in 2023 if the bloc hadn't added nearly 90 GW of solar PV and wind capacity in 2021 and 2022.