Italy is the world's 14th largest producer of hydroelectric power, with a total of 50,582 GWh produced in 2010.[1] Electric energy from hydro accounted for about 18% of the national electricity production in 2010.[2]
There were a total of 2,729 active plants in 2010, of which 302 had a capacity greater than 10 MW.[3]: 54–55 Hydroelectric plants are especially widespread in the north, where there are many rivers and mountains. Lombardy, Piedmont and Trentino-Alto Adige contributed for almost 60% of the total energy production in 2010.[3]: 62
Hydroelectricity played a major role in the development of energy sector in Italy, since until the 1950s almost all the electric energy produced in the country came from this source. In fact, almost all the current capacity was installed in the first half of the twentieth century.[2]
Plants in Italy are also used to store excess energy from other sources during off-peak periods.
Electric power production in Italy from 1883 to 2012: hydroelectricity (in blue) remained almost the same since the 1950s.
Since the Italian peninsula is relatively recent geological formation, it lacks commercial coal deposits and oil, so hydroelectricity was the first source widely used in Italy to produce electric energy,[4] and remained the main source at least until the 1960s. For example, of the total 15.5 TWh produced in 1938 hydro accounted for 14.6, or 94%. Hydroelectric energy played a main role in the Italian industrialization since late 19th century.[5] Hydroelectricity contributed for about 87.5% of the total energy produced from 1900 to 1960.[2]
Since the 1960s the share of hydroelectricity decreased constantly due to the increase in energy needs and almost unchanged total capacity. By 1980, share of hydro was already below 25%. The majority of energy was at that time produced by fossil fuels. For comparison, energy consumed in Italy in 2010 was about 20 times that of 1938.[2]
Italian hydroelectric potential is estimated to be exploited at 90%. This explain the almost unchanged total capacity in last 50 years. All the favorable places have already been taken: this poses a limit on the construction of new plants of relevant capacity in terms of technical, economical and environmental problems.[5]
Largest hydropower plantsedit
Chiotas Dam at EntracqueThe lower reservoir of Edolo pumped storage plant
^ ab. EniScuola. Eni. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
^. Enel. Archived from the original on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
External linksedit
Terna - Italian electric grid operator
February 15, 2024
hydroelectricity, italy, italy, world, 14th, largest, producer, hydroelectric, power, with, total, produced, 2010, electric, energy, from, hydro, accounted, about, national, electricity, production, 2010, hydroelectric, plant, museum, cedegolo, camonicathere, . Italy is the world s 14th largest producer of hydroelectric power with a total of 50 582 GWh produced in 2010 1 Electric energy from hydro accounted for about 18 of the national electricity production in 2010 2 Old hydroelectric plant now museum in Cedegolo Val CamonicaThere were a total of 2 729 active plants in 2010 of which 302 had a capacity greater than 10 MW 3 54 55 Hydroelectric plants are especially widespread in the north where there are many rivers and mountains Lombardy Piedmont and Trentino Alto Adige contributed for almost 60 of the total energy production in 2010 3 62 Hydroelectricity played a major role in the development of energy sector in Italy since until the 1950s almost all the electric energy produced in the country came from this source In fact almost all the current capacity was installed in the first half of the twentieth century 2 Plants in Italy are also used to store excess energy from other sources during off peak periods Contents 1 History 2 Largest hydropower plants 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp Electric power production in Italy from 1883 to 2012 hydroelectricity in blue remained almost the same since the 1950s Since the Italian peninsula is relatively recent geological formation it lacks commercial coal deposits and oil so hydroelectricity was the first source widely used in Italy to produce electric energy 4 and remained the main source at least until the 1960s For example of the total 15 5 TWh produced in 1938 hydro accounted for 14 6 or 94 Hydroelectric energy played a main role in the Italian industrialization since late 19th century 5 Hydroelectricity contributed for about 87 5 of the total energy produced from 1900 to 1960 2 Since the 1960s the share of hydroelectricity decreased constantly due to the increase in energy needs and almost unchanged total capacity By 1980 share of hydro was already below 25 The majority of energy was at that time produced by fossil fuels For comparison energy consumed in Italy in 2010 was about 20 times that of 1938 2 Italian hydroelectric potential is estimated to be exploited at 90 This explain the almost unchanged total capacity in last 50 years All the favorable places have already been taken this poses a limit on the construction of new plants of relevant capacity in terms of technical economical and environmental problems 5 Largest hydropower plants edit nbsp Chiotas Dam at Entracque nbsp The lower reservoir of Edolo pumped storage plantTop ten hydroelectric plants in Italy by capacity Company Plant Capacity MW Place Province TypeEnel Entracque 1 317 Entracque CN Pumped storageEnel Roncovalgrande 6 1 016 Maccagno VA Pumped storageEnel Domenico Cimarosa Presenzano 1 000 Presenzano CE Pumped storageEnel Centrale di Edolo 1 000 Edolo BS Pumped storageEnel Centrale idroelettrica di San Fiorano 568 Sellero BS Conventional Pumped storageEndesa Italia Centrale di Galleto 530 Terni TREnel Centrale idroelettrica di San Giacomo 448 Fano Adriano TE Conventional Pumped storageA2A Centrale idroelettrica di Grosio 428 Grosio SO ConventionalEdipower Nucleo di Mese C le Mese 377 Mese SOEdipower Nucleo di Udine C le di Somplago 309 Cavazzo Carnico UDA2A Centrale idroelettrica di Premadio 245 Premadio SOSee also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hydroelectricity in Italy Renewable energy in Italy Electricity sector in Italy List of power stations in Italy Vajont Dam Geothermal power in Italy Solar power in Italy Wind power in Italy Biofuel in ItalyReferences edit Compare List of countries by electricity production from renewable sources a b c d Statistiche produzione elettricita 1883 2010 Terna Retrieved 10 January 2012 a b Rapporto Statistico 2010 PDF Statistiche sulle fonti rinnovabili in Italian Gestore Servizi Energetici GSE Retrieved 4 January 2012 permanent dead link Italy Resources and power Britannica a b Idroelettrico in Italia EniScuola Eni Archived from the original on 28 October 2012 Retrieved 13 January 2012 Impianti Roncovalgrande Maccagno Enel Archived from the original on 15 November 2012 Retrieved 12 January 2012 External links editTerna Italian electric grid operator Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hydroelectricity in Italy amp oldid 1189993182, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
