(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 23 - In 2022, electricity needs in Italy amounted to 316.8 billion kWh, a value down by 1% compared to 2021. Renewable sources covered a total of 31.1% of demand , recording a marked decline in hydroelectric production.
The Imcei index, which indicates the industrial consumption of 'energy-intensive' companies, also fell: they decreased by 5.4% compared to 2021. This was announced by Terna, the public company that manages the national transmission grid.
The modest contraction in electricity demand recorded in 2022 according to Terna is the result of a "two-speed" year, with positive trend changes in the first part of the year and negative trends starting from the month of August, the consequence of a series of concomitant factors: the measures of containment of electricity consumption implemented by citizens and businesses on the instructions of the Government, the high prices that characterized the energy markets and the rather mild temperatures recorded in the autumn and winter months.
On the production side, the contraction in hydroelectric generation (-37.7%), attributable to the long period of drought, was partially offset by the increase in thermoelectric generation (+6.1%) and in particular by the increase in coal-fired generation, following the actions implemented by the Government to deal with the gas crisis.
In this scenario, the external balance has remained substantially unchanged compared to 2021. (ANSA).