Pichetto Fratin: “Conditions in place to avoid new energy price increases. Energy release an exportable model in the EU”

Rome – “The conditions are in place to avert increases in the price of energy when we return from holiday. Indeed, we must work to lower it. We are acting with all possible means to avoid surprises.” So said Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, speaking today at the Connact Energy event entitled “Energy: EU policies to boost industrial competitiveness and reduce costs for households”, where he discussed with representatives of ENEA and the main Italian companies in the energy sector: A2A, Edison, Enel, Snam and Terna. 

On the energy release mechanism, introduced in Italy to incentivise the production of energy from renewable sources by energy-intensive companies, offering them an advance of energy at a subsidised price in exchange for a commitment to build new renewable plants, the minister said: “It is a model that could be exported to Europe and could also be used for the gas supply: Today many of our companies risk not being competitive because of gas prices. 

Themes of the debate. Connact Energy was an opportunity for an in-depth discussion on the European Union’s energy policies and the role of energy in industrial policies. At the heart of the debate were the ecological transition, the strengthening of energy infrastructures, also in relation to the proposed EU Multiannual Financial Framework, the integration of renewable sources, the competitiveness of the European energy sector and the consolidation of its autonomy.

The event, organised by Connact, the platform that fosters dialogue between private actors and institutions through networking events, in cooperation with the European Parliament and the European Commission, was also attended by Joaquim Nunes De Almeida, Director at the European Commission, in charge of the “Mobility and Energy-Intensive Industries” division in the Directorate-General for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) and Yolanda Garcia Mezquita, Head of Unit for Relations with Member States and Energy Communities (DG ENER). The meeting was moderated by Vittorio Oreggia, Director of GEA – Green Economy Agency. 

“Today’s was a great opportunity for discussion: It is the first time that a truly continental political debate has involved European and national institutions. Like A2A, we reaffirmed that competitiveness and ecological transition go hand in hand. Investing in indigenous energy sources, hydroelectric, solar, wind, and waste, will enable us to lower energy costs, contribute to increasing European autonomy and promote sustainable development for the Planet and the future generations that will inhabit it,” said Filippo
Bonaccorsi, Director of Public Affairs at A2A. 

“The structural reduction of the cost of energy necessarily passes through a significant increase in the share of renewable sources in the energy mix. In order for this to happen under safe conditions for the system, it is essential to decisively address the issue of electricity storage,” said Luca Franza, Head of European Affairs at Edison. 

The promoters. The event has the patronage of the European Commission, the European Committee of the Regions, the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security, ENEA, the Valle d’Aosta Region, the Piedmont Region, the Emilia-Romagna Region, the Lazio Region, the Molise Region and the Abruzzo Region. Promoters of the initiative are A2A, Edison, Enel, Snam and Terna.