Italy's power producers generated 116 TWh of power from clean resources and 109 TWh from fossil fuels in January-November, marking the first time clean power accounted for over half of its total generation, according to data from energy think tank Ember.

This growth in clean energy was mainly due to 44 TWh of hydropower and 34 TWh of solar power in 2024, both hitting record highs. Meanwhile, output from wind power and biomass declined compared to the previous year.

Total clean generation increased nearly 14% year on year, while fossil fuel output fell to its lowest level since 2016, including a nearly 4% year-on-year decline in gas-fired power and an over 70% year-on-year drop in coal-fired power, which hit a historic low.

Italy, Europe's fourth-largest economy, is facing the highest wholesales power prices among major regional economies and is expected to remain Europe's largest net power importer for the tenth consecutive year by the end of 2024.

Italy, however, remains heavily reliant on natural gas, with its production more than double that of any other energy source. The combination of gas dependence, above-average power costs, and high import reliance indicates that the country's energy consumers are still vulnerable to fluctuations in external energy sectors, even though domestic clean energy has set records.