Demand for increased supply of renewable energy escalates among Ligurian farms
In the heart of Italy's picturesque Liguria region, businesses are facing a significant challenge: high energy costs. According to Fabrizio Ferrari, President of Confindustria Genova, this issue is of paramount importance and requires immediate attention.
Currently, energy costs in Italy stand at around 115-120 euros per megawatt-hour. This figure is notably higher than in neighbouring countries like Spain, France, and Germany, where costs range from 60 to 80 euros per megawatt-hour.
Liguria, known for its stunning coastline and bustling ports, is the top producer of wind power in Northern Italy, with wind farms producing 133 megawatts of renewable energy. However, the region's wind power capacity is mid-table compared to other Italian regions for solar and hydroelectric power.
The issue lies not in the production of renewable energy, but in the authorization process for wind farms. According to Ferrari, the process is slow and complex, leading to bureaucratic delays for companies with requests for authorization. This slow pace is causing problems for planned investments in wind farms, with requests for authorization to produce an additional 500 megawatts of energy, four times as much as currently produced.
Ferrari believes that the cost of these delays is higher than any other variable. He hopes for a simplification of the authorization procedures for wind farms, a move that could potentially boost Liguria's renewable energy production and help businesses combat the high energy costs.
The majority of the energy production in Liguria is in the province of Savona. However, the province in Liguria with the most wind turbines is not explicitly specified in the available search results.
Ferrari's assessments apply to both Ligurian and Italian businesses, with the high energy costs being a significant issue across the country. As energy costs in Italy continue to rise, trending towards a high price compared to other countries, it is clear that action needs to be taken to address this concern and support businesses in the region.
