This report is an integral part of the documentation for the Research System activities outlined in the “2019-2021 Three-Year Implementation Plan” within the project “Tools and Models, Including Sectoral, for Energy and Electrical Scenarios, Adapting to System Evolution – Market and Regulation Evolution Analysis.” During the previous three-year period of RdS, RSE developed the INDUCO and EU-MERCI projects on energy efficiency in industry, which provided an energy assessment of various industrial sectors through the analysis and experimentation of approximately 3,000 real cases and proposed some consumption reduction goals.

The digital innovation of recent years and the increasing focus on environmental sustainability have sparked a true industrial revolution. This report results from a critical analysis of information from various authoritative institutional and private sources in the field of industrial studies. The outcome of this work provides an overview of the ongoing industrial revolution in Italy known as Industry 4.0, with a particular focus on its effects on energy efficiency.

The purpose of the document is to provide a preliminary assessment of the impact that Industry 4.0 technologies have had so far on companies and the role that energy efficiency plays in the 4.0 paradigm. An analytical approach was adopted to uncover all possible ways to combine the Industry 4.0 transformation with the maximization of energy efficiency, aiming to contribute to achieving the decarbonization goals set by the country’s regulatory framework, particularly the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan.

The report highlights the advantages, disadvantages, opportunities, and challenges of this “fourth industrial revolution.” It provides guidance on the type of approach to use to achieve the best possible results to facilitate change with policy recommendations that can support companies. In conclusion, the Industry 4.0 paradigm can give a new boost to energy efficiency through business digitalization, allowing for a significant reduction in overall energy consumption and, therefore, progressive decarbonization.