Energy

Potential development

In terms of large plants, in Italy the development of hydroelectric production has reached its peak. After having been the main source of electric energy until the 1960s (82% of the total amount), its share has decreased progressively whereas the quantity produced has remained constant (approximately 40/50 billion kW/h). During the ‘80s the share of hydroelectric energy had already decreased to 25%, whereas the thermoelectric production passed from 14 to 70% during the same period. The hydroelectric sector, if compared to the other renewable resources, has already reached a high value of resource exploitation. All the big hydroelectric plants have been built by now. The way to go in the future is based on small plants for isolated users, who have the chance to exploit the nearby water resources. The further contribution of those plants would be limited to 15 billion kW/h a year, a modest amount as compared to the energy needs of the country. Today, in Italy, hydroelectric operating power plants total approximately 21 MW which, in 1999, produced over 51 billion kW/h, i.e. approximately 19% of the total energy production (over 210 billion kW/h!). Estimates at global level calculate a potential of 180,000 MW that could supply 75% of the current electric energy demand, as compared to the 47,000 MW currently installed. In general industrialized countries are characterized by large plants and there is scope for mini-hydroelectric plants. In many developing countries hydroelectric energy can represent an interesting source of energy supply, both through large hydroelectric plants and mini-hydroelectric ones. The European Union aims at moving from the current 9,500 MW of installed power to 14,000 MW of installed power by 2010.