Renewable energy: in Italy it is a matter of "points of view"

by Valeria Rocca

It 's all a matter of point of view: the glass half full or half empty? Here's the key question about the ambivalent situation of Italy on opportunities related to the world of renewable eneries and green economy.

It disheartens to see that, on the occasion of "World Future Energy Summit 2011”, held in Abu Dhabi, January 17 to 20, out of 148 participating countries (Iceland, Pakistan,Portugal, Sweden, Morocco, Bangladesh, Georgia, Luxembourg, Spain, England, Germany, France, and Palestine, Kazakhstan, Ireland, Korea, Denmark, Canada,Norway, Switzerland, Japan, Turkey, Poland and of course the U.S., India, China and the United Nations with the participation of Ban Ki-Moon) there was no official Italian representative, but only 25 companies. The hastiest conclusion would be that in Italy there is no interest in the future renewable energies. But if you look at the local, maybe you could be denied.

In Siena, January 17 to 22, it took place the "Energy Week".
The event, sponsored by the Province of Siena, in collaboration with APEA (Provincial Agency for Energy and the Environment) and supported by the Fondazione MPS, was designed as an opportunity for information and insight dedicated to many important actions on renewable and energy savings. There were presented data, projects and innovative experiences that have already developed or are being born in the province of Siena.

The event is also an opportunity to talk about the project ''Siena Carbon Free', with which the Siena territory applies to become, by 2015, the first area in Europe with zero CO2 emissions.

The complex project is intended to improve the energy efficiency of public and private buildings, the support for the dissemination of photovoltaic, the production of renewable energies and the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions.

«The Province of Siena -says Gabriele Berni, provincial councillor for the environment -has made the strategic decision to bet on the green economy and on the production of technologies, equipments and materials for renewable energies and energy efficiency, convinced that investing on the environment is a way to create opportunities for economic development and employment in our area».

All in all, a rather reassuring situation that leads us to hope for the future.