2026 saw the conclusion of the Pnrr, the largest public investment plan since World War II: 194 billion allocated to Italy without which the country would be – according to several observers – in recession. Who will now take up the baton to ensure continuity of investments and revive Italian competitiveness? This question was posed by A2A, which together with Teha Group conducted the study “Investing to Compete. The contribution of utilities to the development and employment of the country,” presented today at the Cernobbio Forum by Roberto Tasca and Renato Mazzoncini, respectively president and CEO of A2A, and Lorenzo Tavazzi, senior partner and board member of Teha Group.
Read more Venezuela, Trump’s hands on the deposits previously managed by China and Russia
Ask the Sun
The questions are automatically suggested by 24Ore AI
based on the content displayed.
The answer is in the title itself: utilities are ready to do their part, allocating resources in strategic areas for Italy’s future, to not lose the momentum given by the Pnrr and to strengthen a system that must face complex challenges, from competitiveness and the security of its supply chains – which the Hormuz crisis has brought back into focus – to an increasingly perceptible climate change. The analysis by A2A and Teha estimates that companies in the energy & utility sector could activate total private investments in Italy amounting to 315 billion euros by 2035 and 825 billion by 2050, equal to about 33 billion euros per year. In the following areas: generation from renewable sources and nuclear, solutions for the flexibility of the electrical system, electrical and gas infrastructures (still necessary), data centers, district heating, integrated water cycle, treatment, recycling and recovery of waste and biomethane. With the greatest concentration of funds on generation, which needs to be increased, on renewables, networks and efficiency of water management (see also the adjacent chart).
These are the critical sectors of the Italian energy infrastructure, as well as the classic areas of action for utilities, naturally at the center of the great challenge of these years, the transition, with the ability to translate European objectives into territorial development from an economic, environmental and social point of view.
The study also calculates the benefits of the resources put on the table. Every euro invested in the sector can generate an impact equal to 4.1 times the initial value, thus configuring itself as a development engine that could contribute to increasing annual GDP growth by 10% until 2050, without impacts on public debt, as well as enabling up to 300,000 new direct jobs.
Investments would also lead to greater penetration of renewables, currently the cheapest source of electricity generation, with consequent savings. The study quantifies these for companies at about 80 billion accumulated by 2050: beyond relief on margins and competitiveness, if reinvested they could mean another 260 billion of added value generated for the national economic system. Looking ahead, a complete electrification of consumption could be achieved. A scenario in which the study quantifies energy costs (including fuels) lower for families by up to 1,000 euros per year (700 in a scenario of only partial electrification). Not only that. This development could raise national energy autonomy (always considering fuels as well) from the current 26% to 81% by 2050 with less exposure to market volatility.
Read more Ecoeridania: Rocco De Franchi new director of the Public Affairs division
