The indicator measures the energy consumed by end users and the total energy consumed by the country. Since 1990, there has been an increasing trend in energy available for final consumption, with a peak reached in 2005 of 139 Mtoe. Subsequently, a reversal of the trend was noted, reaching a minimum reached in 2014 (114 Mtoe). Until 2018, a recovery in final consumption was observed, followed by a decline in 2019 and a sudden reduction in 2020 due to the lockdown of economic activities to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, followed by a recovery in consumption in 2021, and then a decline in the following two years. In 2024, the energy available for final consumption, accounted for according to the methodology adopted by Eurostat, is equal to 109.3 Mtoe, +0.4% compared to 2023.

The analysis of the composition of gross domestic energy consumption highlights a progressive reduction in the historical role of petroleum products. This decline corresponds to the growth of natural gas and renewable sources, which in 2024 reached shares of 36% and 21% respectively. Such diversification of the energy basket, driven by renewables, generates a positive impact on the security of supplies and on Italy's rate of energy self-sufficiency, historically among the lowest within the panorama of industrialized countries. Over the last 35 years, renewables have grown almost five times, going from 6.47Mtoe to 29.76Mtoe.

The indicator concerns the emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that influence climate balances. In 2024, energy processes were at the origin of 95.4% of carbon dioxide emissions, 12.4% of methane emissions and 25.1% of nitrous oxide emissions, while they did not contribute to the emissions of fluorinated substances; overall, 81% of greenhouse gas emissions were of energy origin. Between 1995 and 2024, the trend in greenhouse gas emissions from energy processes initially paralleled that of energy consumption. However, from 2004 onwards there has been a progressive decoupling, which has become more pronounced in recent years. This turning point is not due to economic decline - given that GDP shows a general upward trend - but rather to a clear reduction in energy intensity, the replacement of fuels with a high carbon content with natural gas and the growing share of renewable sources in the electricity sector and industry. In 2024 there will be a reduction in emissions from energy processes of 3.5% compared to 2023.

The indicator consists of the ratio between atmospheric emissions of greenhouse gases and final energy consumption by sector. The average value of emission intensities shows a difference between the sectors in relation to the different diffusion of renewable sources. Overall, emission intensity for final uses decreased by 29.8% from 1990 to 2024. The data shows that policies for the decarbonisation of energy consumption have produced appreciable results in the sectors of electricity production and in the manufacturing industry. On the contrary, the transport sector, decidedly less centralized than the sectors mentioned, represents the real "hard core" and the main challenge for the coming years.

The indicator monitors the level of dependence on foreign supplies to satisfy gross domestic energy needs, expressed as a percentage value for each individual energy source (Solid Fuels, Oil, Natural Gas, Renewables) and as a whole (Total). The decrease in the share of oil and the increase in the share of energy from renewable sources determines the decrease in national energy dependence. Since 2007, a reduction in energy dependence has been observed, which went from the maximum value of 85.5% in 2006 to the minimum of 75.1% in 2020. In 2024, dependence recorded 75.8%. 

Final electricity consumption grew constantly from 1990 to 2008 and then decreased due to the economic crisis. Following the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, consumption in 2020 decreased by 5.7% compared to the previous year with a rebound of 6.2% in 2021 followed by a decrease in subsequent years. In 2024 there is a decrease of 2.8% compared to 2021, reaching a value of 24.4 Mtoe. The share of consumption in industry has fallen from 51.7% in 1990 to 37.6% in 2024, that of the tertiary and residential sectors has increased from 43.2% to 56.9%, that of agriculture and fishing has changed very little, going from 2% to around 2.4%, while that of transport, with some fluctuations, remains around 3%.

The indicator measures how many MJ of fossil fuel are needed to produce one kWh of electricity, thus monitoring the efficiency of our energy system. From 1996 to 2024, specific consumption decreased by 21.6% (gross production) and 23.3% (net production). This is a clearly positive trend, which certifies how thermoelectric power plants have over time become capable of producing more energy while wasting fewer resources with a consequent increase in the efficiency of the electricity production of the thermoelectric park.

The indicator concerns atmospheric emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO ₂) at the origin of the acidification processes. Sulfur dioxide emissions basically come from energy processes. In 2024, these processes contributed 90.2% of overall sulfur dioxide emissions. Sulfur dioxide emissions essentially originate from the use of fossil fuels (plants for energy production, domestic heating and transport); they can be reduced by improving the quality of the fuels and/or through the treatment of the gaseous effluents of the process. The decrease in sulfur dioxide emissions from energy processes (-96.3% in 2024 compared to 1990 and -98.1% compared to 1980), due to the use of fuels with a lower sulfur content and the use of emissions reduction systems, has so far guaranteed compliance with international protocols on acidification. Overall sulfur dioxide emissions in 2024 are 82.9% lower than in 2005.

The indicator evaluates the trend of greenhouse gas emissions from energy processes for the different sectors, in order to reduce the impact of energy use on climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions from energy processes in the period 1990-2024 decreased by 31% with different trends for the various sectors, while in the civil sector they decreased by 16% compared to 1990, in the transport sector they increased by 10%. In the same period, emissions from the energy industry sector fell by 55% while those from manufacturing industries showed a reduction of 50%. In 2024, emissions from energy processes were 294.5 million tonnes of CO ₂  equivalent (-3.5% compared to the previous year). 

The energy intensity indicator expresses the relationship between energy consumption (whether gross or final) and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expressed at chain-linked market prices. This parameter represents a fundamental measure of the energy efficiency of an entire economic system, indicating how much energy is consumed to generate a unit of wealth. The analysis of the Italian time series between 1995 and 2024 reveals a progressive and structural decoupling between economic growth and energy consumption. In the face of economic fluctuations, the Italian productive and civil system has recorded a clear increase in efficiency, significantly reducing the quantity of energy necessary to produce national wealth, driven above all by the technological transformation of the industrial and civil sectors.

The internal comparison within the European Union highlights that Italy's primary and final energy intensity is lower than the European average due to the historical shortage of primary energy sources (which has favored the creation of economical behaviors and infrastructures in the use of energy and a production structure that is not excessively energy-intensive), the strong taxation (which has increased the cost of energy sources to end users beyond the values ​​of other countries), the lower per capita income, and the relatively mild climate. According to an increasing ranking of gross energy intensity values, Italy ranks 7th among the countries of the European Union.

In 2023, the contribution of cogeneration plants to total electricity production amounted to 36.4%, while the share of cogeneration in gross thermoelectric generation reached 59.5%.

In 2023, with 116.6 TWh of gross electricity production from plants from renewable sources, the contribution to total electricity production was 44.3%, net of production from pumping and accumulations.  The contribution of photovoltaic to the total renewable sources is 26.3%. Wind energy represents 20.3%. The share of hydroelectric energy is 34.8%. Bioenergy represents 13.7% and geothermal sources the remaining 4.9%.

In Italy, the share of energy from renewable sources reached 20.4% of gross final consumption in 2020, exceeding the national target of 17%. In 2023, this share declined to 19.6%, remaining well below the 2030 target of 38.7%.

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 2023, the average ratio in our country (75.9%) has been higher than the European average (69.1%). In recent years, a significant increase in the ratio has been observed.