Italy’s Energy-Intensive Industries amid Competitiveness and Decarbonisation

The European Green Deal has entered into a new, critical phase, where competitiveness and economic security are more relevant. The Clean Industrial Deal aims to create a business case for European green industrialisation by focusing not only on clean tech but also on the existing energy-intensive industries. Their transformation will be essential for decarbonisation to be achieved. A combination of solutions is required to mitigate emissions in EIIs: electrification; addressing methane emissions, especially from the international suppliers, given the relevance of natural gas in Italy’s energy mix; the ramp up of clean hydrogen where more efficient electrification is not feasible; and CCS. Along the industrial transformation, Italy is called to pursue different industrial and energy measures to address multiple challenges. To do so, Italy needs to work with the EU in setting priorities, standards and creating new tools, including related to investments, that will enable industrial transformation.