Wind power in Italy

Wind power in Italy, at the end of 2015, consisted of more than 1,847 wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 8,958 megawatts. In 2019, Italy generated 20,054 GWh of electricity from wind power, equal to 7.1% of the total electricity generation.^[1]

Wind turbines near Frigento, province of Avellino, Campania

Italy is ranked as the world's tenth producer of wind power as of the end of 2016. Prospects for Italian wind energy beyond 2020 were positive, with several projects planned to go live before 2030.^[2][3]

Overview

Share of wind power in total electricity demand in Europe in 2017

  > 40 %

  20-30 %

  10-20 %

  < 10 %

In 2001, the European Commission issued its Directive on Electricity Production from Renewable Energy Sources. The Directive set a goal for Italy to obtain at least 25% of its electricity from renewables by 2010.^[4] The 1999 Italian ‘White Book’ targeted to install 2,500 MW of wind power capacity by 2010; Italy exceeded this in 2007. The Italian government targeted 12,000 MW by 2020. Given that Italy's recent growth in wind power capacity has been about 30% annually, in 2008 the target appeared reachable by 2015.^[4] Italy introduced a renewable energy quota system in 2002, and uses green certificates to ensure that power producers and importers produce specified percentages of electricity from renewables. Renewable energy under the quota system must come from new or repowered plants which began operating after April 1, 1999.^[4]

Blue H Technologies - World's first floating wind turbine (80 kW)

The first floating wind turbines were tested in 2007-2008. Blue H Technologies of the Netherlands deployed the world's first floating wind turbine, 21.3 kilometres (13.2 mi) off the coast of Apulia in December 2007.^[5] The first foundations for the 30 MW Beleolico offshore wind farm were installed near Taranto in January 2022,^[6] and inaugurated in April 2022.^[7]

Installed capacity growth

Wind power installed capacity and generation in Italy

The table shows the annual increase in installed wind power capacity in recent years.^[8]: 39

Year	Nameplate capacity		Plants
	MW	change	number	change
2000	363	-	55	-
2001	664	82.92%	81	47.27%
2002	780	17.47%	99	22.22%
2003	874	12.05%	107	8.08%
2004	1,131	29.41%	120	12.15%
2005	1,639	44.92%	148	23.33%
2006	1,908	16.41%	169	14.19%
2007	2,714	42.24%	203	20.12%
2008	3,538	30.36%	242	19.21%
2009	4,898	38.44%	294	21.49%
2010	5,814	18.70%	487	65.65%
2011[9]	6,936	19.30%	807	65.71%
2012[10]	8,144	17.42%	1,054	30.61%
2013[11]	8,552	5.01%	1,386	31.50%
2014[12]	8,703	1.77%	1,847	33.26%
2015[12]	9,126	4.86%	2,734	48.02%
2016[13]	9,388	2.87%	3,598	31.60%
2017	9,780	4.18%	5,579	55.06%
2018	10,310	5.42%	5,642	1.13%
2019	10,760	4.36%	5,644	0.04%
2020[14]	10,907	1.37%	5,660	0.28%
2021	11,320	3.79%	5,731	1.25%
2022[15][16][17]	11,850	4.68%	5,928	3.44%
2023[15][16][17]	12,340	4.14%	6,019	1.54%
2024 [18]	13020	5,51%

Gallery

• 
  Wind farm in the background of Buccheri, Sicily
• 
  Wind farm near Scansano in the Tuscan province of Grosseto
• 
  Wind farm in Varese Ligure, Province of La Spezia
• 
  REpower MM82 Wind Turbine in Minervino Murge

See also

• Italy portal
• Renewable energy portal

• Energy in Italy
• Electricity sector in Italy
• Solar power in Italy
• Geothermal power in Italy
• Hydroelectric power in Italy
• Biofuel in Italy
• Renewable energy in Italy
• European Wind Energy Association
• Global Wind Energy Council
• Wind power in the European Union
• List of wind power stations in Italy