Forced by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 to find an alternative for the Russian natural gas it used to import, Italy increased its production of electricity from coal to 7.5% of the total last year, from 4.6% in 2021.
Citing gas storage that was 82% full at the end of June and increased renewable production, Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said in a statement the country could speed up decarbonisation “while guaranteeing our country’s energy security”.
The minister also cited a fall in electricity demand and an increase in hydroelectric power as two developments that allowed Italy to use less coal.
A government document showed the country needs to invest more and step-up efforts to meet a European Union 2030 target for lower carbon emissions.
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