Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy

The indicator quantifies fuel consumption in the transport sector, with the aim of reducing and/or diversifying it. Energy consumption in the transport sector has shown a rising trend since the 1990s, followed by a decline starting in 2007. A recovery in consumption was observed in 2018 and 2019, while the sharp reduction in 2020 is attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was followed by a rebound in 2021 and a further increase in 2022 and 2023.

I consumi finali di energia elettrica sono cresciuti costantemente dal 1990 al 2008 per poi flettere per effetto della crisi economica. In seguito agli effetti della pandemia di SARS-CoV-2 i consumi del 2020 si sono ridotti del 5,7% rispetto all’anno precedente con un rimbalzo del 6,2% nel 2021 seguito dalla diminuzione negli anni successivi. Nel 2023 si registra un decremento del 4,6% rispetto al 2021, attestandosi al valore di 24 Mtep. La quota dei consumi nell'industria è scesa dal 51,7% nel 1990 al 38,3% nel 2023, quella dei settori terziario e residenziale è aumentata dal 43,2% al 56,3%, quella dell’agricoltura e pesca è rimasta quasi costante intorno al 2%, mentre quella dei trasporti, con delle fluttuazioni, si mantiene intorno al 3,4%.

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.

The indicator is based on the ratio between atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions and final energy consumption by sector. The average value of emission intensities shows a difference between sectors related to the varying adoption of renewable sources. Overall, the emission intensity for final uses has decreased by 25.1% from 1990 to 2022.

Comparison within the European Union highlights that Italy's primary and final energy intensity remains below the European average. This is largely due to historical lack of domestic primary energy sources, —which has fostered energy-saving behaviours, efficient infrastructure, and a relatively low energy-intensive production structure—as well as a high level of energy taxation (which has raised end-user energy prices above those in other countries), lower per capita income, and a relatively mild climate. Based on a ranking of countries by increasing primary energy intensity, Italy ranks 7th among European nations.

In 2020, the share of energy from renewable sources in Italy reached 20.4% of gross final energy consumption, exceeding the national target of 17% set for 2020. In 2021, the share decreased to 18.9%, and in 2022 it slightly rose to 19.1%, recording an increase of 0.2 percentage points compared to the previous year.

The ratio of final energy consumption to total energy consumption measures the overall efficiency of converting energy from primary sources. The difference between these two values corresponds to losses in conversion processes (such as electricity generation and oil refining), internal consumption of power plants, and distribution losses. From 1990 to 2022, the average ratio in our country (70.6%) has been higher than the European average (62.6%). In recent years, a significant increase in the ratio has been observed.