In homage to Paolo Colli, founder of Fare Verde, the event “Idroelettrico: La più grande fonte di energia pulita, rinnovabile, programmabile” was held on April 3 at the Sala della Regina of the Camera dei Deputati in Montecitorio.

During the event, RSE provided an update on the current situation of hydropower in Italy, presenting the highlights of the RSEview Monograph “Il ruolo dell’idroelettrico nel processo di transizione energetica” aimed at raising awareness about the values of hydropower in the current energy, social, and geopolitical context.

Antonella Frigerio, Deputy Director of RSE’s Sustainable Development and Energy Sources Department, emphasized the strengths of hydropower that have recently brought attention back to this sector:

• It is still the main renewable source in the world, in Europe, and in Italy in terms of producing clean, economical, and reliable energy.
• It actively contributes to the provision of balancing services (flexibility and storage) necessary for integrating energy from non-programmable renewable energy sources.
• It enhances the energy security of our country, helping to reduce energy dependence on imports.
• It is not subject to fluctuations in fuel prices.
• It is based on national technologies.
• It offers social services in the context of adapting to climate change, particularly by mitigating flood risks in case of extreme precipitation and releasing water from reservoirs in case of water crises to limit damage to the agricultural sector, thereby contributing to food security.

However, the hydroelectric sector still faces several challenges to play a leading role in the energy transition. Among these:

• Administrative issues: primarily, the matter of concession renewals requires resolution to unblock investments in the sector. Additionally, permitting processes need simplification to ensure that the timelines for implementing new plants, particularly pumping plants, as well as the repowering and modernization of existing plants, align with the schedules established for achieving European goals.
• Environmental aspects: it is essential to promote better sustainability and environmental integration of infrastructures, protecting biodiversity and mitigating impacts on ecosystems, as well as establishing a transparent dialogue based on scientific grounds with environmental associations.
• Climatic aspects: it is important to assess how climate change will impact water availability and support integrated water resource management, already seen as blue gold in several countries worldwide, referring to the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus to ensure food security and social well-being.

RSE has also set the goal of representing and involving stakeholders in the Italian hydroelectric sector in ETIP HYDROPOWER. this technological innovation platform aims to become a key reference point for providing recommendations to policy makers of the European Commission for updating the SET Plan.

Here is the day’s program.