The Italian wind sector is experiencing notably slower growth compared to the photovoltaic energy sector, according to industry experts. Currently, Italy has 12.5 GW of installed wind power capacity, while photovoltaic power exceeds 34 GW.

This situation is influenced by a combination of logistical, bureaucratic, and social obstacles. Martina Conti, a renewable energy consultant in Italy at Taylor Hopkinson, states that although the country’s wind potential is significant, progress is mainly concentrated in the south and on the islands, where more land is available.

“Wind farms require large areas of land to ensure a certain distance between turbines,” explains Conti in an interview with Energía Estratégica España, highlighting one of the primary spatial limitations of the sector. She also points out that another major issue is “the long bureaucratic processes in the authorization phase, which vary from one region to another.”

On the other hand, the consultant notes that social challenges impact the development of new wind projects, as certain segments of the population oppose them, believing that wind turbines degrade the landscape. This issue becomes a significant obstacle for both onshore and offshore wind installations.

Wind Energy Goals

The updated Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) for Italy, submitted to the European Commission, sets a target of 28 GW of wind energy, with 2 GW from offshore wind.

As a result, the Associazione Nazionale Energia del Vento (ANEV) has stated that it is necessary to “more than double the installed wind capacity in the next 5 or 6 years.”

It is important to note that there are 108 GW of wind projects with connection requests and 84 GW of offshore wind, primarily in the regions of Puglia, Sicily, and Sardinia.

In the last month, 650.1 MW from eight wind farms in the environmental processing stage were presented, according to a survey conducted by Energía Estratégica España based on data published by the Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica (MASE).

Offshore Wind Energy

A month ago, the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport approved the maritime spatial planning plans, with a three-year delay, as the deadline was set for 2021.

The plans indicate the maritime areas for activity planning, including the “Western Tyrrhenian-Mediterranean,” the “Adriatic,” and the “Central Ionian-Mediterranean” plans.

“Undoubtedly, this is a step forward, but it’s not enough; there are still many regions that oppose offshore energy, and most of the projects that have requested grid connection are still in the environmental impact assessment phase, while some haven’t even started this phase yet,” analyzes Conti, emphasizing that Italy remains behind in offshore wind compared to other countries.

Currently, Italy has 30 MW of offshore wind power, while the goal is to reach 2.1 GW of installed capacity by 2030.

Specialized Workforce: Shortage of Qualified Profiles

The boom in renewable energy in Italy has led to a significant increase in the demand for specialized talent, a situation that the local job market is still not fully prepared to address, according to the specialist.

Conti highlights that after the 2012 crisis and the blocking of incentives, the sector experienced a significant loss of qualified professionals, creating a gap in the market. “The lack of specialized and experienced profiles is a major challenge for the wind sector,” she emphasizes.

The consultant mentions that it is becoming increasingly common to see high-level professionals with extensive experience in the Oil & Gas sector transitioning to the renewable energy field.

“Many senior profiles are making this transition, and university students are also choosing to specialize in the sector,” she says. Nevertheless, the gap between demand and the availability of specialized talent continues to be a challenge for the development of wind projects in the country.