Autumn Assessment for Businesses in Piedmont: Focus on Energy
The Industrial Union of Turin is set to kick off the season with a roundtable event focused on discussing energy costs, a pressing issue for businesses in the region.
Giuseppe Bergesio, president of the Energy Group of the Industrial Union of Turin, emphasizes the importance of providing businesses with up-to-date scenarios and concrete tools to manage energy costs. The manufacturing sector, which makes up about two-thirds of the sample, is particularly affected, with negative balances of -5.9% for production, -8% for new orders, -11.5% for profitability, and -7.8% for exports.
Amalberto, president of Confindustria Piemonte, points out that the problem of energy prices is indeed present, but the central issues are those related to times and procedures, the energy mix, and the renunciation of nuclear power, which today penalizes Italy. National normative intervention by the Ministry of the Environment is needed, argues Amalberto, to guarantee faster times and fast lanes for renewable energy plants.
The Energy Group of the Industrial Union of Turin has a programmatic document and various activities, including updates, training, and information on energy scenarios. The issue of investments in renewable energy plants remains a driver for businesses to reduce and manage energy costs, according to Amalberto.
There is a slight increase in the propensity to invest, with 74.6% of the businesses in the sample interested. Over seventy businesses have signed up for the initiative.
The complexity and slowness of authorization procedures by local administrations is another factor that slows down the development of renewable energy plants in Italy. Clear national normative coverage that can guarantee a certain framework for the authorizing work of officials is necessary, according to Amalberto.
Bergesio highlights energy management tools and brokerage as primary importance for managing costs by 2026. However, no structural solutions are in sight for the high energy cost issue in the Italian industry.
The latest predictive survey by Confindustria Piemonte shows negative indicators for production (-1%), orders (-2.3%), exports (-6.1%), and profitability (-6.9%) for the third quarter of the year. Businesses must take into account the impact of energy costs on their budgets and evaluate which protection tools to adopt to manage the volatility of energy and gas.
Widespread opposition by citizens and local administrators to host new renewable energy plants in their territories is a factor that slows down their development in Italy. Companies involved in developing new renewable energy plants in Italy, such as VSB Italien, Baywa r.e., and Enerside, can face challenges related to project approvals and long permitting times by local authorities.
The roundtable event is scheduled for September 17, aiming to be an operational support for the choices of businesses as they navigate the complex landscape of energy costs and renewable energy development in Italy.
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