Terna to Invest €3.2 Billion in Sicily’s Energy Infrastructure Development

From left: Enrico Maria Carlini, Head of Electric System Planning and Permitting of Terna and Calogero Giuseppe Burgio, Director of the Energy Department of the Sicily Region

(IN BRIEF) Terna, Italy’s national electricity grid operator, and the Sicily Region have entered into a five-year partnership to enhance the planning and placement of new electricity infrastructure in Sicily. The collaboration aims to expedite projects outlined in Terna’s Development Plan and achieve environmental energy goals. Key components include the creation of a “control room,” roundtable discussions, and a digital platform for data exchange with stakeholders. The partnership focuses on inclusive planning with local authorities and aims to ensure an efficient and sustainable electricity grid for Sicily. Terna will invest 3.2 billion euros in Sicily over the plan’s duration.

(PRESS RELEASE) ROME, 21-Dec-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Terna S.p.A. (BIT: TRN), Italy’s national electricity grid operator, led by Giuseppina Di Foggia, has joined forces with the Sicily Region to establish a new partnership aimed at improving the planning and positioning of new electricity infrastructure in the region. This collaboration seeks to expedite the projects outlined in Terna’s Development Plan, with a focus on achieving the objectives set forth in Italy’s Regional Environmental Energy Plan.

The agreement, signed by Calogero Giuseppe Burgio, Director of the Energy Department, and Enrico Maria Carlini, Head of Electric System Planning and Permitting, outlines the terms of a five-year partnership. Key components include the establishment of a “control room” with decision-making authority, roundtable discussions for data exchange, consultations, addressing local requirements, and regulatory clarification. A new digital platform will serve as the primary channel for sharing information with stakeholders, including regional authorities, the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, and the Italian Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks, and Environment (ARERA). Terna will digitize status data for renewable production facilities and information related to grid connections.

This initiative underscores Terna and the Sicily Region’s commitment to fostering inclusive discussions and participatory planning involving local authorities, stakeholders, and the public. The objective is to collaboratively determine the locations for structural projects, expedite project timelines, and ensure a more efficient and sustainable electricity grid for the region while preserving natural and cultural heritage.

Key projects outlined in the 2023-2032 Development Plan for Sicily include the construction of three critical infrastructure works:

1. The Caracoli – Ciminna (PA) power line to connect the Tyrrhenian Link landing point to the extra-high voltage grid.
2. The power line between the Fulgatore and Partinico (PA) substations to receive electricity generated by renewable sources in the area.
3. The submarine power line between the Priolo (Sicily) and Rossano (Calabria) grid nodes to optimize production from existing sites, strengthen the reliability of the Sicilian grid, and enhance energy flows with the mainland.

Terna will invest a total of 3.2 billion euros in Sicily over the duration of the Development Plan, making the region the largest beneficiary of investments in Italy.

Renato Schifani, President of the Sicily Region, expressed his commitment to supporting Terna’s efforts, stated “My administration aims to follow and facilitate, to the best of its ability, the impressive work of upgrading the National Grid that Terna is operating both in the regional territory and with the Tyrrhenian Link (a Sicily-Sardinia branch and a Sicily-Campania branch) and TUNITA (Tunisia-Italy). The island is bidding to become a natural national energy hub, starting precisely from renewable sources. The goal for Sicily is to reach 10,38 gigawatts of total installed capacity for renewable sources in 2030. To date, the Region has already issued authorizations for about 5 gigawatts. The fruitful collaboration with Terna can be further expanded by exploiting their digital technologies for territorial and environmental monitoring.”

Roberto Di Mauro, Regional Councillor for Energy, emphasized the significance of the agreement, commented “This agreement is fundamental because it will make it possible to share information and data and accelerate authorization procedures in this way. The agreement makes it possible to systematize a two-way collaborative relationship with Terna so that we know the traceability of the path of all the initiatives of an entrepreneurial nature that must be done in Sicily, private and public. Great openness towards Terna to collaborate, to agree and have knowledge of all the instances that are presented in Sicily in order to simultaneously have a clear picture of what are the real practices that function for the achievement of the 2030 goal.”

Francesco Del Pizzo, Manager of Terna’s Grid and Dispatching Development Strategies department, affirmed Terna’s commitment, declared “The signing of this agreement further consolidates the partnership with the Sicily Region to work together towards the targets of the energy transition. By exchanging energy from renewable sources, developing cross-border connections and catalysing the decarbonisation process, Terna is aiming to create an increasingly interconnected and sustainable energy system that offers Italy greater security, reliability and cost-effectiveness.”

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SOURCE: TERNA S.p.A.