Energy, ENEA: consumption and emissions fall, but Italy moves further away from its 2030 targets

In the first half of 2026, energy consumption and CO₂ emissions both fell by around 2%. Oil consumption declined, but ENEA’s index measuring Italy’s energy transition performance deteriorated.

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Energy consumption and CO₂ emissions in Italy both decreased by around 2% during the first six months of 2026, but the country’s path towards its 2030 energy and climate targets remains challenging.

This is one of the main findings of ENEA’s Quarterly Analysis of the Italian Energy System, which assesses developments in the national energy system during the first half of the year.

Between January and June, oil consumption fell by almost 4%, although the decline was more limited in the transport sector. Electricity demand, on the other hand, increased by 2.5% compared with the same period of the previous year.

The use of natural gas for electricity generation also increased, rising by 4.4%, while strong growth in solar PV and wind generation was partly offset by lower hydropower production.

Despite the overall reduction in energy consumption and emissions, ENEA’s analysis points to a deterioration in Italy’s progress towards its energy transition objectives.

The ISPRED index, developed by ENEA to assess energy security, energy prices and decarbonisation, recorded a 25% deterioration.

The figures highlight how a short-term reduction in energy consumption and emissions is not, on its own, sufficient to ensure that Italy meets its 2030 climate and energy targets. Further progress is therefore needed on energy efficiency, renewable energy deployment and the structural reduction of fossil fuel use.