• Energy Research

Abstract As highlighted by European policymakers and academic research, the global economic crisis of 2008 emphasized the energy poverty phenomenon. A number of households have had to considerably reduce their energy expenditure but the traditional criteria adopted to calculate energy poverty are not able to measure their number. Placed in this framework, the paper aims to define a new measure of hidden energy poverty suitable to identify which Italian households restrain their energy consumption due to their inability to afford energy services. A review of the available energy poverty metrics supports the definition of a new indicator that is able to include hidden energy-poor consumers considering some key peculiarities such as the poor energy efficiency of buildings, the poverty situation, low energy consumption and sensitivity to the climate. Using data from the Household Budget Survey provided by the Italian National Institute of Statistics in 2018, the newly identified indicator supports the assessment of the percentage of Italian households in hidden energy poverty and supplies useful insight to policymakers in their effort to support vulnerable consumers.

Abstract As highlighted by European policymakers and academic research, the global economic crisis of 2008 emphasized the energy poverty phenomenon. A number of households have had to considerably reduce their energy expenditure but the traditional criteria adopted to calculate energy poverty are not able to measure their number. Placed in this framework, the paper aims to define a new measure of hidden energy poverty suitable to identify which Italian households restrain their energy consumption due to their inability to afford energy services. A review of the available energy poverty metrics supports the definition of a new indicator that is able to include hidden energy-poor consumers considering some key peculiarities such as the poor energy efficiency of buildings, the poverty situation, low energy consumption and sensitivity to the climate. Using data from the Household Budget Survey provided by the Italian National Institute of Statistics in 2018, the newly identified indicator supports the assessment of the percentage of Italian households in hidden energy poverty and supplies useful insight to policymakers in their effort to support vulnerable consumers.

Abstract Taking a retrospective look at Italy's experience over the period 2006–2014, this paper investigates to what extent the deployment of renewable energy sources (RES) contributed to value added and employment in the economy. From the methodological point of view, our study combines an input-output approach with a comprehensive bottom-up analytical model in which detailed product information from external trade statistics is used to account for imports. Although during the period under consideration Italy experienced an expansion in RES capacity that went beyond the rosiest expectations, it appears that the resulting demand for plant components was met to a very significant extent by imports. We find that the contribution to sectoral value added and employment was not as large as envisioned by ex-ante analyses. In net terms, the resources absorbed by RES plants in the construction, installation and manufacturing phase seem to have made a smaller contribution to the domestic economy than they would have in several counterfactual scenarios. The opposite is true for the resources used in the subsequent operation and management phase. Finally, our results suggest that variation in domestic content of manufactured products may limit the portability of RES employment and value added factor estimates across countries.

Abstract Taking a retrospective look at Italy's experience over the period 2006–2014, this paper investigates to what extent the deployment of renewable energy sources (RES) contributed to value added and employment in the economy. From the methodological point of view, our study combines an input-output approach with a comprehensive bottom-up analytical model in which detailed product information from external trade statistics is used to account for imports. Although during the period under consideration Italy experienced an expansion in RES capacity that went beyond the rosiest expectations, it appears that the resulting demand for plant components was met to a very significant extent by imports. We find that the contribution to sectoral value added and employment was not as large as envisioned by ex-ante analyses. In net terms, the resources absorbed by RES plants in the construction, installation and manufacturing phase seem to have made a smaller contribution to the domestic economy than they would have in several counterfactual scenarios. The opposite is true for the resources used in the subsequent operation and management phase. Finally, our results suggest that variation in domestic content of manufactured products may limit the portability of RES employment and value added factor estimates across countries.

In recent years the evolution and enhanced performance of underground cables with extruded insulations such as XLPE has re-focused attention towards the installation of underground EHV and HV transmission circuits. The liberalisation of the energy market and the need to connect new power plants to the grid has stimulated growing requirements to extend existing transmission systems. The planning choice between overhead line and underground cable will have to be consistent with safety, reliability and operational constraints to ensure the capacity of the transmission grid efficiently matches the demand and supply of electrical energy. The choice between the two alternatives overhead lines (OHL) and underground cable (UGC) is driven by technical, environmental, and economic considerations. The operating costs over the life of the asset can be converted into an equivalent capital sum at the start of the project life and added to the capital cost of the investment. The environmental costs of a transmission facility can be quantified in terms of the burden on the built/developed/occupied land or territory. The presence of an electro-magnetic field exceeding the value set by national Laws (or Rules or Standards) may create a quarantined area of land unavailable for human activities or development. The economic impact [€/m2] to the land crossed by a transmission line can be estimated taking into account the loss of value of the rights-of-way

In recent years the evolution and enhanced performance of underground cables with extruded insulations such as XLPE has re-focused attention towards the installation of underground EHV and HV transmission circuits. The liberalisation of the energy market and the need to connect new power plants to the grid has stimulated growing requirements to extend existing transmission systems. The planning choice between overhead line and underground cable will have to be consistent with safety, reliability and operational constraints to ensure the capacity of the transmission grid efficiently matches the demand and supply of electrical energy. The choice between the two alternatives overhead lines (OHL) and underground cable (UGC) is driven by technical, environmental, and economic considerations. The operating costs over the life of the asset can be converted into an equivalent capital sum at the start of the project life and added to the capital cost of the investment. The environmental costs of a transmission facility can be quantified in terms of the burden on the built/developed/occupied land or territory. The presence of an electro-magnetic field exceeding the value set by national Laws (or Rules or Standards) may create a quarantined area of land unavailable for human activities or development. The economic impact [€/m2] to the land crossed by a transmission line can be estimated taking into account the loss of value of the rights-of-way

This paper summarises the major recommendations and conclusions of the third Forum of the European Network on Energy Research (ENER) which took place in June 2002 in Budapest. The major perceptions of this meeting as well as the most important conclusions and recommendations for energy policy makers are compiled in this summary. The statements compiled in the following represent a consensus within the ENER Network while on some questions differences in perception and analysis persisted.

This paper summarises the major recommendations and conclusions of the third Forum of the European Network on Energy Research (ENER) which took place in June 2002 in Budapest. The major perceptions of this meeting as well as the most important conclusions and recommendations for energy policy makers are compiled in this summary. The statements compiled in the following represent a consensus within the ENER Network while on some questions differences in perception and analysis persisted.

Il settore elettrico è investito, in quasi tutti i paesi industrializzati, da una profonda crisi strutturale, iniziata negli anni ‘90 [1]. Essa segna il passaggio dalla fase di diffusione dell’elettrificazione, contrassegnata dal primato della fornitura di energia e dal conseguente affermarsi di monopoli statali, alla fase del libero mercato e della ricerca di efficienza. Questo quadro di grandi mutamenti è caratterizzato anche da rilevanti innovazioni tecnologiche, che si rivelano sempre più essenziali al suo sviluppo. Si pensi, ad esempio, al ruolo giocato dall’elaborazione delle informazioni in un contesto di mercato dominato dalla borsa elettrica, o alle tecnologie innovative nel settore della generazione atte a consentire tempi di ritorno molto contenuti per gli investimenti. In questo contesto è naturale che gli investitori siano spinti a ricercare soluzioni favorevoli allo sfruttamento anche di minimi vantaggi competitivi. Limitandoci al segmento della produzione di energia elettrica, è ben noto il collo di bottiglia, costituito dalle difficoltà burocratiche, che ostacolano l’ingresso nel mercato di nuovi soggetti: trattasi di un processo che richiede almeno venti diverse autorizzazioni, che coinvolgono circa 80 Enti, con tempi stimati in 950 giorni. La stessa Legge Bassanini, trasferendo alle Regioni le competenze autorizzative degli impianti fino a 300 MW termici (che richiedono nuovi adeguati strumenti strutturali e valutativi) ha finito per incrementare, anziché diminuire com’era nelle intenzioni, tempi e costi. Ostacoli anche maggiori si profilano sul versante dei fattori ambientali legati alle emissioni al camino, all’impatto sul territorio, ai campi elettrici e magnetici associati alle linee di trasmissione. E tuttavia gli ostacoli non sembrano ancora scoraggiare i potenziali nuovi attori del mercato della produzione, considerato che le richieste di connessione alla rete di trasmissione e gli studi di fattibilità hanno superato, in un solo anno e in termini di potenza, i 60 GW! Lo scenario si presenta dunque contrassegnato da alti rischi ma potrebbe anche fruttare elevati premi laddove gli operatori riescano ad individuare soluzioni tecnologiche che accelerino i tempi senza rinunciare a fornire elevate prestazioni e garanzie. È abbastanza singolare, a tale proposito, che impianti di generazione di elevato impegno, autorizzati e finanziati, non riescano a decollare per la difficoltà di ottenere i permessi alla costruzione di pochi chilometri di linea necessari per raggiungere il più vicino nodo della RTN. Infatti, la normativa sull’esposizione ai campi elettrici e magnetici che si va profilando all’orizzonte renderà, ancor più di quella vigente, in molti casi pressoché impossibile la realizzazione di tali tratte di linea. È con riferimento a questo aspetto che il presente lavoro intende fornire un utile contributo prospettando l’impiego di elettrodotti innovativi di tipo blindato (EBLI) in grado di rendere insignificanti i campi elettrico e magnetico sul territorio. Obiettivo principale dell’articolo è quello di mostrare, tramite un confronto tra linee aeree e linee blindate, la possibile convenienza di queste ultime laddove vengano correttamente computati prestazioni e oneri complessivi. I risultati ottenuti mostrano l’effettiva competitività della tecnologia EBLI quando le potenze da trasmettere siano rilevanti e la valorizzazione del territorio sia importante.