Italy

The 3,000-panel system is expected to save approximately 800 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions

An Italian insurance giant has announced plans to divest €2 billion (£1.6bn) from coal. Generali aims to increase its exposure to green businesses instead, with plans to invest €3.5 billion (£2.9bn) mainly through green bonds and infrastructures. Group CEO Philippe Donnet said: “Protecting the environment and adopting effective actions to tackle climate change are central […]

Italy’s plans to provide €4.7 billion (£4.2bn) of public support for advanced biomethane and biofuels have been approved by the European Commission. The scheme, which will run until 2022, supports the production and distribution of second and third-generation biofuels for use in transport. Under the project, producers of advanced biomethane and biofuels receive a premium […]

Rome plans to ban diesel cars from the city centre from 2024. Mayor Virginia Raggi made the announcement this week as part of the city’s efforts to tackle air pollution. She said: “Climate change is changing our lifestyle habits. Our cities risk being faced with unexpected challenges. “If we want to intervene seriously, we must […]

E.ON has begun construction of a 57MW onshore wind farm in Italy. The Morcone project in the Benevento province near Naples will use 19 3MW turbines from Danish component manufacturer Vestas. The energy giant is currently building surrounding roads and laying the foundations for the first wind turbines, with installation of the main structures planned […]

The European Commission has approved six schemes for backup electricity to ensure security of supply. It said the power capacity mechanisms in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Poland comply with the rules aimed at preserving competition in the single market. The schemes in Belgium and Germany are for strategic reserves, which keep certain generation […]

  An Italian-based firm is investing around $10 million (£7.4m) in its first carpet recycling facility in the US. Aquafil’s plant in Phoenix is said to further enhance its Econyl Regeneration System – which recovers nylon from old carpets, swim suits and fishing nets for use in new products. The Aquafil Carpet Recycling (ACR) #1 […]

Greenhouse gases are reportedly being emitted into the atmosphere but aren’t being recorded officially. A BBC investigation alleges “large quantities” of a particular gas are being emitted from a location in Italy, which were detected by air monitors in Switzerland, however official submissions to the UN record “just a tiny amount of the substance being […]

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved financing worth €1 billion (£0.9bn) to roll out smart meters in Italy. The first tranche of €500 million (£451m) has been signed by the EU bank and Enel Group. Its power distributor e-distribuzione aims to install around 41 million new generation ‘2.0 meters’, of which 32 million will […]

The EU has approved reductions in extra charges for energy intensive firms in Germany and Italy. The Commission found measures to support operators of cogeneration plants, financed by a surcharge imposed on electricity consumption and connection, furthered EU energy and climate goals and increased competition in the marketplace. In 2016 the EU investigated whether German […]