Wind Energy in Italy
2021 wind energy numbers
In 2021 the effects of the COVID pandemic decreased, and the new capacity increased at the levels of 2018-2019: 470 MW, the total installed capacity surpassing 11 GW.
The year 2021 has seen the closure of many relevant research projects, the proposal and start of new ones, and an increasing number of participants in the IEA WIND Tasks.
To learn more about Italy's wind energy sector, please review their chapter in the IEA Wind TCP 2021 Annual Report.
National Targets
The final version of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Action Plan (INECP), published in December 2019, sets a target of 30% of overall annual energy consumption from renewable energy sources (RES) for the year 2030. The contribution of wind energy is fixed in a total installed capacity of 19.3 GW (including 0.9 GW offshore), producing 41.5 TWh/y, including revamping and repowering interventions. In line with “Next Generation EU” actions, in 2021, Italy published the National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs), which outline a future update of the objectives of the INECP. Pending this update, the Ministry of Ecological Transition has adopted the Ecological Transition Plan, which provides a framework of environmental and energy policies integrated with the objectives already outlined in the NRRP.
Progress & Operational Details
According to the National Wind Energy Association (ANEV), Italy installed a new net wind power capacity of 471 MW in 2021. Cumulative installed capacity at the end of 2021 reached 11.1 GW - all land-based, including decommissioning and repowering. The trend of annual and cumulative capacity in 2010-2021. According to the national TSO, TERNA, around 240 MW of small wind plants (plant size lower than 200 KW) should be added to the cumulated capacity.
National RDD Priorities and Budget
Italian Research Institutes and Universities carry on several activities in the field of wind energy both at the basic science and technological level. They are funded by national and international projects, consultancy activities for private enterprises as well as, especially for the fundamental physics aspects, self-financed. According to the present institutional organisation, the ministries mainly supporting and promoting R&D are the Ministry of Economic Development (MiSE), and the Ministry of Education, Universities, and Research (MIUR).