Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Hydropower Country Notes

Italy

Italy's theoretical resource base for hydropower is one of the largest in Western Europe, and its economically exploitable capability is nearly as much as that of France. Hydroelectric power has not, however, been developed to quite the same degree as in the case of its neighbour: about 72% of the assessed economic potential of 65 000 GWh/yr has so far been harnessed. Hydroelectricity accounts for about 19% of Italy's power generation.

The installed capacity of small-scale plants at end-2005 was 2 405 MW, representing about 14% of the overall hydro capacity of 17 326 MW. About 21% of the overall hydroelectric generation is attributable to small-scale plants. The Italian WEC Member Committee reports that the hydro potential for small-scale plants has been largely tapped; current efforts are concentrated on the extension, revamping and return to operation of existing schemes, fuelled by the appropriate incentives.

Hydro power plants are eligible for:

• mandatory national quotas and tradable green certificates (TGC) (currently, TGC value is € 109 + power market price of around € 60/MWh);
• RECs (renewable energy certificates) TGC and Guarantee of Origin (GO) for voluntary support;
• dispatching priority.
  

Some HPPs are still supported under the former (expiring) feed-in tariffs.