Energy in Italy

Nuclear power in Italy was utilized until the Italian nuclear power referendum closed all plants by 1990, but was reversed in 2008 (see also nuclear debate). The country now has plants planned.

On the other hand, Italy could be Europe's next big solar power market after Spain [http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/38068] .

Nuclear power in Italy

The phase out legislation was introduced in 1987. The government decided in 1988 to phase out existing plants, with the last power reactor closing in 1990.

Since that time, Italy became a larger importer of power, reaching approximately 10% of their electricity from nuclear-dependent France by 2007. The new policy, embracing nuclear power is intended to reverse this trend. An earlier agreement to become part owner of the second EPR, to be built in France, having been rejected by the French, Italian utilities are investing heavily in nuclear capacity in central Europe.

In January 2008 a think tank, Energy Lab, started a feasibility study for construction of three or four new nuclear power plants in Italy as a part of a new debate on nuclear power in the country. [ Reuters. [http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSL0911991120080109 Italy renews nuclear power debate] . Jan 9, 2008.] The April 2008 win of the Italian general election by the Forza Italia party, which strongly supports nuclear power, [ "Forbes". [http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/04/14/afx4884425.html A2A Head wants Italy to build 3 or 4 nuclear power stations] . April 14, 2008.] makes these plans more likely to be realized. The significant losers in the election were the far left parties opposing nuclear power, [ Reuters. [http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL2949152020080529 Italy greens say no to nuclear to push renewable energy] . Retrieved on 2008-05-30.] which have been eliminated from the legislature, making Italy one of the few European countries where the Greens have no parliamentary representation at all.

Following Silvio Berlusconi's victory in the 2008 election, Italy's industry minister announced that the government scheduled the start of construction of the first new Italian nuclear-powered plant by 2013. [ cite news |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSL2276751620080522 |title=Italy should build more nuclear plants - minister |author=Giselda Vagnoni |date=May 22, 2008|publisher=Reuters |accessdate=2008-05-22 ]
Enel S.p.A. plans to build new reactors at one of three licensed sites: Garigliano, Latina, or Montalto di Castro. The first two had small reactors operating until 1982 and 1987. At Montalto di Castro two larger reactors were almost complete when the country's November 1987 referendum halted construction. [cite web
url= http://world-nuclear.org/info/inf101.html
title= Nuclear Power in Italy
date= June 2008 |work= | publisher= World Nuclear Association (WNA)
accessdate= 2008-06-22 ]

References

External links

* [http://world-nuclear.org/info/inf101.html Nuclear power in Italy] at the WNA site.
* [http://www.nea.fr/html/general/profiles/italy.html Nuclear power profile of Italy] at the NEA site.