Environmental effects of energy policy in Sicily: the role of renewable energy

The saving of primary energy from fossil fuels and the promotion of exploitation of renewable sources are two of the most relevant goals to be achieved in order to match the climate protection target fixed by the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. For Italy, the commitment is the reduction of the greenhouse emissions by 6.5% below 1990 levels over the commitment period 2008–2012. It requires the introduction of suitable political strategies and programmes aimed to establish a sustainable energy system together with the application of a set of actions either at national scale, either at regional one. This study presents the results of a survey in the context of the Regione Sicilia about the potential saving of primary energy and the reduction of greenhouse emissions, which should be allowed by local energy planning in the energy uses. An assessment of the specific costs per unit of saved energy and of avoided CO2eq emissions is presented for each of the actions of the Sicily Regional Energy Master Plan (REMP). The REMP proposal has been presented by the University of Palermo, Messina and Catania together with ITAE-CNR. It is up today under discussion and examination by the Regional Government.