Italy’s 2030 Green Goals at Risk: What This Means for Investors and Businesses in Sustainable Markets
CERNOBBIO — Italy risks missing its European Union carbon emission reduction targets due to significant delays in critical green transition sectors, including renewable energy generation and energy storage systems, according to a study released on Saturday.
The report, conducted by energy company Edison in collaboration with the TEHA Group think tank, warns that Italy may take up to ten years longer than expected to implement renewable energy and storage infrastructure. This delay could jeopardize the country’s ability to meet the EU’s decarbonisation objectives set for 2030.
To address these challenges, the study advocates for streamlining the permitting process, ensuring investment certainty, and lowering energy costs. It highlights that combining hydropower storage with advanced nuclear power and carbon capture technologies could boost Italy’s economy by €190 billion by 2050.
The analysis identifies a potential capacity of 13.6 gigawatts in hydropower storage, spread across 56 new sites, which would enhance Italy’s energy security and climate resilience.
Nicola Monti, CEO of Edison, emphasized the importance of reducing reliance on foreign energy and technology, strengthening domestic supply chains such as hydroelectric pumping, and fostering European collaboration on emerging technologies like next-generation nuclear power and carbon capture.
The report also notes that Italy’s solar projects are hampered by costs approximately 20% higher than those in France, Germany, and Spain, primarily due to power grid congestion, limited land availability, and slow approval procedures.
Meanwhile, US stock markets closed slightly lower on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average declining nearly 0.5%, the S&P 500 down about 0.3%, and the Nasdaq remaining largely flat. — Reuters
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
Italy’s delayed green transition highlights the critical importance of streamlined permitting and investment certainty for renewable energy projects. For Oman, this presents a strategic opportunity to position itself as a regional leader in renewable infrastructure and energy storage solutions, minimizing regulatory bottlenecks that hamper growth elsewhere. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should focus on leveraging efficient regulatory frameworks and exploring emerging technologies like hydropower storage and carbon capture to gain competitive advantages in the evolving energy landscape.
