FINAL AND TOTAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY SECTOR

    Descrizione 1
    Update date
    Authors

    Antonio Caputo, Giulia Iorio, Francesca Palomba

    Abstract
    Immagine
    Abstract

    The indicator measures the energy consumed by end users and the total energy consumed by the country. Since 1990, there has been a general upward trend in the energy available for final consumption, reaching a peak in 2005. This was followed by a reversal, with consumption declining to a minimum in 2014. From then until 2018, a recovery in final consumption was observed, followed by a decrease in 2019 and a sharp drop in 2020 due to the lockdown of economic activities aimed at containing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Consumption then rebounded in 2021, before declining again in 2022. In 2022, the energy available for final consumption—calculated according to the methodology adopted by Eurostat—amounted to 112.0 Mtoe, a 6.9% decrease compared to 2021.

    Description

    The indicator, calculated according to the Eurostat methodology, provides information on the energy requirements of the entire national economy across various sectors.

    Purpose

    To assess trends in total energy consumption at the national and sectoral levels, with the aim of reducing overall energy use.

    Policy relevance and utility for users
    It is of national scope or it is applicable to environmental issues at the regional level but of national relevance.
    It can describe the trend without necessarily evaluating it.
    It is simple and easy to interpret.
    It provides a representative picture of environmental conditions, environmental pressures, and societal responses
    It provides a basis for international comparisons.
    Ha una soglia o un valore di riferimento con cui può essere confrontato
    Analytical soundness
    Be based on international standards and international consensus about its validity;
    Be theoretically well founded in technical and scientific terms
    Presents reliability and validity of measurement and data collection methods
    Temporal comparability
    Measurability (data)
    Adequately documented and of known quality
    Updated at regular intervals in accordance with reliable procedures
    An “adequate” spatial coverage
    An “appropriate” temporal coverage
    Main regulatory references and objectives

    The European Union has updated its climate strategy framework, setting a target of a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, a renewable energy share of at least 42.5% (based on a provisional agreement in 2023, with an ambition to reach 45%), and an 11.7% reduction in final energy consumption relative to projections under the 2020 reference scenario.

    As part of the EU energy governance process, Italy submitted the updated version of its National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) to the European Commission on July 1, 2024. The PNIEC incorporates previous policy documents and outlines the necessary measures to meet EU targets on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and greenhouse gas emission reductions.

    With regard to final energy consumption, and in order to contribute to the binding EU target, the PNIEC states that Italy’s final energy consumption—taking into account additional measures beyond existing policies—is expected to reach 102 Mtoe and primary energy consumption 123 Mtoe by 2030. These figures fall short of the targets set by the revised Energy Efficiency Directive (EED III), which are 93 Mtoe for final energy and 111 Mtoe for primary energy.

    Binding targets for the reduction of final energy consumption are also defined, through mandatory energy efficiency schemes established under Article 7 of Directive (EU) 2018/2002. These targets entail an annual reduction of 0.8% in final energy consumption for each year from 2021 to 2030, based on the average annual consumption over the 2016–2018 period, to be achieved through active policies. This corresponds to a cumulative reduction of 73.42 Mtoe over the 2021–2030 period.

    Regarding the main national legislative references for the 2020 targets, Legislative Decree No. 102/2014, as amended by Legislative Decree No. 73 of July 14, 2020, implements Directive 2012/27/EU, as amended by Directive 2018/2002/EU.

    For energy efficiency targets up to 2030, the key regulatory acts include:

    • Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union.

    • Directive (EU) 2018/2002 on energy efficiency (revising Directive 2012/27/EU), transposed into national law by Legislative Decree No. 73/2020.

    • Directive (EU) 2018/844, amending Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings and Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, EPBD), transposed by Legislative Decree No. 48 of June 10, 2020.

    • Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources.

    • Directive (EU) 2023/1791 on energy efficiency.

    DPSIR
    Driving force
    Indicator type
    Descriptive (A)
    References

    European Environment Agency, Energy and Environment in the European Union, Environmental issue report, No. 31, 2002 

    European Energy and Transport Trends to 2030–2007 update. European Commission DG TREN. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg, 2008 

    MASE, National Energy Balance, various years, https://sisen.mase.gov.it/dgsaie/

    MASE, 2022, The National Energy Situation in 2022, https://www.mase.gov.it/sites/default/files/Archivio_Energia/LA%20RELAZIONE%20SULLA%20SITUAZIONE%20ENERGETICA%20NAZIONALE%20NEL%202022_MASE%20Luglio%202023.pdf

     

    Limitations

    Since January 2019, Eurostat has revised the historical data series by adopting a new methodology, the main change of which involves reallocating part of the consumption from the steel sector to the transformation sector. An additional methodological change was introduced in 2021, concerning the accounting of fuel consumption for self-produced heat in the industrial sector, which was previously included under transformation. As a result, the data presented are not comparable with previous editions.


     

    Frequenza di rilevazione dei dati
    Annuale
    Fonte dei dati
    ENEA
    EUROSTAT (Ufficio Statistico delle Comunità Europee)
    MASE (Ministero dell'ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica)
    Data availabilty

    MASE, National Energy Balance, https://dgsaie.mise.gov.it/bilancio-energetico-nazionale     

    ENEA, Regional Energy Balances

    EUROSTAT, http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database      

                                                                                                                                                            

    Spatial coverage

    National

    Time coverage

    1990-2022

    Processing methodology

    Since 2015, Eurostat has used its established methodology for processing energy consumption data, and this applies to the entire historical data series, including data collected before 2015. In January 2019, Eurostat updated its historical data series by implementing a revised methodology. This change primarily involved shifting some consumption from the steel sector to the transformation sector.  As a result, the data presented are not comparable with previous editions.

    Update frequency
    Year
    Qualità dell'informazione

    The data source is Eurostat, which receives national-level data submitted by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security.
    The data transmission and their quality are subject to the standards established by Eurostat for all Member States. The data are well-documented, come from a known and reliable source, and are scientifically and technically sound. They offer broad temporal coverage, are spatially comparable, and support international comparisons.

    State
    Good
    Trend
    Positive
    State assessment/description

    In 2022, the energy available for final consumption amounted to 112.0 Mtoe, a 6.9% decrease compared to the previous year.
    The civil sector (residential and services) accounted for 41.7% of final energy consumption, with 27.1% attributed to the residential sector and 14.6% to the tertiary sector. The transport and industrial sectors accounted for 33.1% and 22.2%, respectively, while the agriculture and fisheries sector represented the remaining 2.8% (Table 1 and Figure 1).

    Trend assessment/description

    Since 1990, the energy available for final consumption has shown a growing trend, reaching a peak in 2005 (+21.3% compared to 1990).
    Subsequently, a reversal occurred, with consumption declining by 18.4% in 2014 compared to 2005 and by 1% compared to 1990 (Table 1 and Figure 1). This decline was accelerated by the economic crisis.
    From 2015 onwards, the energy available for final consumption began to recover until 2017, followed by a downward trend in recent years. The sharp reduction recorded in 2020 (–7.9% compared to 2019) is attributed to the lockdown of economic activities implemented to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
    In 2021, there was an increase in energy available for final consumption (+10.1% compared to 2020), reaching 120.3 Mtoe, which also exceeded the 1990 level by 4.6%.
    In 2022, final energy availability decreased by 6.9% compared to the previous year, amounting to 112.0 Mtoe.

    Final energy consumption trends by sector differ from 1990 levels: in agriculture,  the value remained relatively unchanged; in industry, a 27.8% decline was observed. In contrast, transport and the civil sector (residential and services) showed increases of 12.2% and 33.9%, respectively.


     

    Comments

    National final energy consumption peaked in 2005, followed by a sharp decline starting in 2009 and continuing through 2014 as a result of the economic crisis.
    The subsequent years showed a recovery up to 2017, followed by a contraction in consumption, which became particularly pronounced in 2020 due to the pandemic. In 2021, energy consumption rebounded, but declined again in 2022.

    In 2022, final energy consumption in the transport sector increased by 5.4% compared to the previous year, while consumption in the industrial sector and other sectors decreased by 6.9% and 7.8%, respectively.

    Data
    Thumbnail
    Headline

    Figure 1: Final Energy Consumption by Economic Sector

    Data source

    ISPRA elaboration based on data from MASE, ENEA, and EUROSTAT

    Data legend

    *Water supply system consumption is included in the Services sector

    Headline

    Table 1: Final Energy Consumption by Economic Sector

    Data source

    MASE, ENEA, EUROSTAT

    Data legend

    *Water supply system consumption is included in the Services sector

    English