“100 Italian Energy Stories” study: Italy is the world’s leading country in terms of photovoltaic share in the power generation mix

• Italy is the world’s leading country in terms of photovoltaic share in the power generation mix, and ranks second among European big players as to energy efficiency, these are just two out of Italy’s several achievements in the energy sector
• Realacci and Starace: “We talk about 100 ways of making energy in Italy: this is Italy on the move, an example of good industrial practice and innovation, thanks to people who had an idea and turned it into reality”

ROME, 25-11-2015 — /EuropaWire/ —  The climate challenge, which will see the world come together in Paris at the COP21 from 30 November to December 11th, 2015, is not only about the environment, but is also a geopolitical, technological, economic and social challenge. A challenge for the future which we can win provided we make a firm commitment to the green economy, energy efficiency and clean energy.

In the study “100 Italian Energy Stories” presented today by Enel’s CEO and General Manager, Francesco Starace, and the Chairman of Symbola, Ermete Realacci, Enel and Symbola tell us about a new direction focused on innovation and quality, research and competitiveness This report focuses  on the Italian power sector, which gathers together top success stories ranging from generation to distribution, from equipment maintenance to household energy efficiency. Businesses, research bodies and associations in Italy have been taking this path towards sustainable energy.

“We tell the story of a country which, despite long-standing limitations and problems, is at the forefront in many sectors, in particular in the energy sector” – say Realacci and Starace in the foreword to ‘100 Italian Energy Stories’. “We have started to exploit the opportunities of converting electricity generation towards sustainable and small-scale generation, which required new solutions. This report, whilst not claiming to be exhaustive or an academic study, gathers the stories of 100 protagonists of this change”. The climate challenge can be won through innovation, efficiency, clean energy and the green economy. Italy is in the game.

Today, Italy is the global leader in terms of photovoltaic contribution to the national power generation mix (7.9%), ahead not only of Greece (7.6%) and Germany (7%), but also of Japan (under 3%) and the USA and China (less than 1%). Italy also shares the top place with Spain among the large EU countries as to the share of renewables in power generation. Italy also ranks second among Europe’s big players in terms of energy consumption efficiency in the national economy. Italy consumes 15 tonnes of oil equivalent per million euro, while the UK consumes 12 toe (but has less manufacturing), France 16 toe, and Spain and Germany 18 toe.

“Innovation and sustainability, the development of renewables and of technologies linked to smart grids and energy efficiency play a key role in Enel’s business” – says Francesco Starace, Enel’s CEO and General Manager. “The Group is committed to playing an active role in the decarbonisation effort through its industrial activities and has set itself the goal of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050. It is our hope that the COP21 in Paris will deliver a global climate agreement able to send a strong signal in this direction”.

“Besides the need to tackle climate change, this is also an exceptional opportunity to kick-start the national economy in a green direction”, adds the Chairman of the Symbola Foundation Ermete Realacci. “Italian enterprises – 24.5% of the total – which from the start of the crisis invested in greening their business have improved their performance in terms of innovation, export and job creation, developing a positive green spread for our country. Italy ranks first among the large European countries in terms of eco-efficiency of the production system and is at the forefront as to the share of renewables in power generation (43.3%). Italy also stands out due to the fact that Francesco Starace is the first representative of a utility in the UN Global Compact Board. What better confirmation of Enel’s commitments to sustainability and renewable energy. It is no coincidence that a few weeks ago the Guardian spoke of Enel as the planet’s first ‘truly green energy giant’. Enel’s new management has also given up coal burning at the Porto Tolle power plant and has announced the closure of a further 22 conventional power stations. ‘Made in Italy’ thus means an innovative and competitive development model, in line with Pope Francis’ call for an economy that puts people first. In this respect, Italy is already proving its worth and through its achievements can make a contribution to the COP21 in Paris”.

Here is the list of the 100 stories included in the report

3Sun, 40South Energy, Advanced Devices, AFNonlus,  Agenzia CasaClima, Albarubens, Ambiente Italia, Angelantoni Group, Ares2T, Aria, assoRinnovabili, Astroflex, Athonet Smartgrid, BaxEnergy Italia, Bitron, Brandoni Solare, BTicino, Calbatt, University Campus of Savona, CESI, CHOSE – University of Tor Vergata, CNR – IMEM (Institute of Materials for Electronics and Magnetism – Italian National Research Council) Parma, Convert Italia, Cubit, Elettrocostruzioni, Elettronica Santerno, Elianto, ELVI, ENEA, ENESSERE, ETA, EXERGY, FIAMM, Fimer, FlexGrid, FlyTop, Sustainable Development Foundation, Global Compact Network, Italia green Apes, Greenpeace Italia, Habitech, HEnergia, Henesis, i-EM, Ikrotec, IMAT, Iren, Istituto Eni Donegani, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Jonica Impianti, Kyoto Club, La Fabbrica del Sole, Laser Navigation, Legambiente, LEITWIND, Liter of Light Italia, Lithops, Loccioni, LUISS ENLABS, MAC, MATIS (CNR – IMM), MC Energy GTS, MHY-TEC, MIB-SOLAR, Midori, Omet, Panoptes,  PENSOTTI FABBRICA CALDAIE LEGNANO, Polytechnic University of Milan – Department of Energy, Polytechnic University of Turin, Prysmian Group, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, RES4MED, RSE, Rubner, SBskin, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna – TeCIP, s.d.i. Automazione Industriale, SELTA, SIC Divisione Elettronica, SITE, SMART GRIDS ITALIA, Smart-I, Solarexpo – The Innovation Cloud, Solbian Energie Alternative, Spin8, TechFlue, Tera, Terna, TIS innovation park, Turboden, TW-TeamWare, UbiEst, Ubiquicom, Underground Power, University of Trento, weAR, WavEnergy.it, Wave for Energy, WWF Italia.

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Enel Media Relations
T +39 06 8305 5699
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ufficiostampa@enel.com

Symbola Press office
Symbola – Fondazione per le Qualità Italiane Via Maria Adelaide, 8 00196 Rome Ph. 06 45430941 Fax 06 45430944 M. 380/7067441 laura.genga@symbola.net www.symbola.net

SOURCE: Enel Spa