Italy

Index rank 21

Energy Sustainability Index Rankings

 2010  2011  2012  Trend
Energy Performance  38  37  20 
Energy Security  44  49  19 
Social Equity  23  23  26 
Environmental Impact Mitigation  57  48  33 
       
Contextual Performance  38  32  34 
Political Strength  37  38  38 
Societal Strength  32  33  34 
Economic Strength  53  42  43 
       
Overall Rank  33  31  21 
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Fossil Fuel Resources

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Key Metrics

Industrial sector (% of GDP) 24.7
TPEP / TPEC  (net energy importer) 0.16
Emission intensity (kg CO2 per USD) 0.79
Energy affordability (USD per kWh) 0.26
GDP / capita (PPP, USD); GDP Group 29,841 (B)
Energy intensity (million BTU per USD) 0.01
CO2 emissions (metric tons) / capita) 6.76
Population Access to Electricity (%) 100.0
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Index Commentary

As a result of improved energy performance, Italy improves its Index position by ten places to rank 21. A better wholesale margin on gasoline, more diversified electricity production and relatively high oil reserve stocks all lead to a substantial jump in the energy security dimension, even though Italy reduces its energy consumption slower than peer countries. Although energy intensity per GDP per capita increases, Italy reduced emissions intensity per capita and the quality of air and water improved relative to peer countries, allowing the country to win ground in the environmental impact mitigation. Italy shows a stable performance across all contextual dimensions.

Trends and Outlook

• Italy has reached important mitigation policy objectives by transforming its thermoelectric fleet into one of the most efficient in Europe and by changing the energy mix for power generation from oil to cleaner natural gas and renewable energy. Furthermore, several measures were adopted for improving energy efficiency in the residential-commercial and transport sectors, however, additional efforts are necessary to upgrade the existing infrastructure, buildings and car-truck fleets. Recent policy developments include: 1) two ministerial decrees, approved in July 2012, with reshaped incentives for electricity production from renewable energy and tariffs increasingly in line with those applied in other EU countries; 2) the decree “Dl Sviluppo” came into force in July 2012 and confirmed tax breaks for restructuring activities and the improvement of energy performances in buildings; and 3) the government’s commitment to support the development of natural gas infrastructures to improve diversification and support the expansion of renewable energy. Measures are expected to have a positive impact on both energy security and environmental impact mitigation by lowering the environmental impact of electricity production, reducing Italy’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and improving the Italian balance of payment. However, concerns remain around the social equity dimension: the challenge of increasing costs of energy for families and businesses, mainly due to the surge in oil and gas import prices, but also due to incentives to drive the development of renewable energy, needs to be addressed, e.g., a further integration and convergence towards EU spot liquid markets and price formulas.

Notes

1) Data for shale oil is for resources in place