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4.2.4 ITALY
The Italian energy policy framework is broadly designed by an Interministerial
Decree, called National Energy Strategy (also known as “SEN” –
Strategia Energetica
Nazionale
) approved in March 2013 after a wide consultation launched in the pre-
vious year. The SEN has not currently the character of a law and its role is to set tar-
gets and draw directions for the development of the Italian energy sector, to be im-
plemented via other specific measures.
The main goal of the document is the improvement of the Italian energy sector in
terms of competitiveness, sustainability, security of supply and diversification of
sources. In the short period (“2020 horizon”), the modernisation of the energy
industry is expected to be driven by the following factors:
\\
strong investments both in the new “green and white” economies (RES and ef-
ficiency) as well as in the traditional sectors, including electricity and gas net-
works, regasification plants and storages
\\
reduction of CO ² emissions and energy efficiency measures, both exceeding
the EU 20-20-20 targets set for Italy
\\
growth of renewable energy sources, so that they will become by 2020 the
primary energy source in the electricity sector together with natural gas
The SEN identifies specific measures for the gas market to enhance its competitive-
ness, to improve security of supply and to reduce the dependence on import via
source diversification. More specifically with regards to gas infrastructure, the
document lists a series of new strategic projects, including particular references to
storage capacity, LNG terminals and other import infrastructure.
The need to develop storage capacity is clearly highlighted in the SEN, which
indicates the need to increase the system capacity margin by expanding existing
storage facilities and commissioning new sites. These enhancements are aimed to
increase the flexibility of the gas supply mix, preventing emergency situations during
peak demand conditions and/or supply interruption.
About the LNG market, the SEN states that regasification capacity is to be expanded
to improve LNG access to the Italian market, to further improve supply diversification
and to exploit potential market opportunities.
For other import infrastructure, a key role is played by project(s) which will enable
Italy and Europe to receive energy supplies from the Southern Corridor. The import
of gas from the Caspian region would be in particular facilitated by the Trans-Adriatic
Pipeline (TAP), although new gas import projects from the Mediterranean area are
not excluded. The SEN also promotes the availability of virtual and physical reverse
flow capacity towards the markets of Central and Northern Europe.
All the above mentioned measures are aimed to support the concept of a Southern
European hub, making the Italian gas market liquid, competitive and well integrated
with the other developed hubs, with prices in line with the main European countries.
The SEN is covering with more indicative objectives also a longer time span (“2050
horizon”), foreseeing even stronger efforts in terms of energy efficiency and RES
penetration to sustain a decarbonised economy. Notwithstanding expectations of
decrease in terms of annual consumption, also in this wider time horizon the key role
of gas for the energy transition is clearly recognised.