Power
Hydropower
Hydropower has been the most important renewable energy source in South Tyrol since the beginning of electrification. The historical legacy is significant. Nevertheless, environmentally friendly and technologically innovative expansion of hydropower in South Tyrol is possible. Hydropower and water protection – the two do not have to be contradictory.
Many power plants were built more than 70 years ago. Since then, technology has advanced. Replacing pipelines and machinery would significantly improve the efficiency of the plants. Key potentials for hydropower therefore lie in modernizing and optimizing existing facilities and in the environmentally safe construction of new plants along watercourses that have not yet been developed. The provincial water protection plan severely restricts these possibilities, even though the use of hydropower contributes to climate protection. Hydropower is not part of the problem – but part of the solution.
In 2024, renewable energies covered 48.8 percent of Italy’s net electricity production and 41.2 percent of Italy’s electricity demand. With a share of 40.5 percent of renewable electricity production, hydropower remains the most important “green” energy source in Italy.
Facts about hydropower
Concessions for hydropower plants in South Tyrol:
under 230 kW – 850
between 220 kW and 3 MW – 158
over 3 MW – 29
Source: Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol 2019
Solar Energy
Lots of water, little sun: PV electricity plays only a minor role in South Tyrol. Therefore, we need a solar expansion initiative. However, rooftop and façade surfaces alone are not enough to meet climate targets. New PV systems must also be installed on sealed surfaces or in locations with low ecological value. A monitoring system should assess the available potential.
Agri-photovoltaics – the combination of agriculture and solar power generation – could help our region to actually achieve the expansion targets formulated in the climate plan. Agri-PV systems reduce water consumption, optimize land use, increase yields, and can be designed to blend harmoniously into the landscape.
Local identity and democracy: every municipality should explore local options together with its citizens when it comes to planning and installing PV plants.
As of September 30, 2025, a total of 19,312 photovoltaic systems were installed in South Tyrol (+8.6% compared to the end of 2024), with a total installed capacity of 485 MW (+8.0% compared to the end of 2024). At this time, Italy had a total of 2.038 million PV systems, an increase of about 8.6% compared to the end of 2024, with a total installed capacity of 41.0 GW (+10.9% compared to the end of 2024). Source: GSE.
Wind Energy
It does not always have to be a large alpine wind farm with tall towers and wide rotors. Even if landscape protection is a top priority in South Tyrol, the construction of smaller wind turbines in industrial areas could be considered. We should reopen the discussion about the use of wind energy – in dialogue with the population.Wind power could stabilize and complement “green” electricity production in our region, as wind yields are high at night and in bad weather – when the sun is not shining and no solar energy is produced.
Electricity Mix in South Tyrol
Hydropower: 89 percent
Biomass: 5 percent
Photovoltaics: 4 percent
Fossil fuels: 2 percent
Total electricity production: approx. 6.7 TWh
Share of renewable energy: 98 percent
Source: Terna
Electricity distributors in the Trentino-South Tyrol region: 52 (Cooperatives: 21)
Electricity distributors in Italy: 123
Source: CSEA
Hydropower has been the most important renewable energy source in South Tyrol since the beginning of electrification. The historical legacy is significant. Nevertheless, environmentally friendly and technologically innovative expansion of hydropower in South Tyrol is possible. Hydropower and water protection – the two do not have to be contradictory.
Many power plants were built more than 70 years ago. Since then, technology has advanced. Replacing pipelines and machinery would significantly improve the efficiency of the plants. Key potentials for hydropower therefore lie in modernizing and optimizing existing facilities and in the environmentally safe construction of new plants along watercourses that have not yet been developed. The provincial water protection plan severely restricts these possibilities, even though the use of hydropower contributes to climate protection. Hydropower is not part of the problem – but part of the solution.
In 2024, renewable energies covered 48.8 percent of Italy’s net electricity production and 41.2 percent of Italy’s electricity demand. With a share of 40.5 percent of renewable electricity production, hydropower remains the most important “green” energy source in Italy.
Facts about hydropower
Concessions for hydropower plants in South Tyrol:
under 230 kW – 850
between 220 kW and 3 MW – 158
over 3 MW – 29
Source: Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol 2019
Solar Energy
Lots of water, little sun: PV electricity plays only a minor role in South Tyrol. Therefore, we need a solar expansion initiative. However, rooftop and façade surfaces alone are not enough to meet climate targets. New PV systems must also be installed on sealed surfaces or in locations with low ecological value. A monitoring system should assess the available potential.
Agri-photovoltaics – the combination of agriculture and solar power generation – could help our region to actually achieve the expansion targets formulated in the climate plan. Agri-PV systems reduce water consumption, optimize land use, increase yields, and can be designed to blend harmoniously into the landscape.
Local identity and democracy: every municipality should explore local options together with its citizens when it comes to planning and installing PV plants.
As of September 30, 2025, a total of 19,312 photovoltaic systems were installed in South Tyrol (+8.6% compared to the end of 2024), with a total installed capacity of 485 MW (+8.0% compared to the end of 2024). At this time, Italy had a total of 2.038 million PV systems, an increase of about 8.6% compared to the end of 2024, with a total installed capacity of 41.0 GW (+10.9% compared to the end of 2024). Source: GSE.
Wind Energy
It does not always have to be a large alpine wind farm with tall towers and wide rotors. Even if landscape protection is a top priority in South Tyrol, the construction of smaller wind turbines in industrial areas could be considered. We should reopen the discussion about the use of wind energy – in dialogue with the population.Wind power could stabilize and complement “green” electricity production in our region, as wind yields are high at night and in bad weather – when the sun is not shining and no solar energy is produced.
Electricity Mix in South Tyrol
Hydropower: 89 percent
Biomass: 5 percent
Photovoltaics: 4 percent
Fossil fuels: 2 percent
Total electricity production: approx. 6.7 TWh
Share of renewable energy: 98 percent
Source: Terna
Electricity distributors in the Trentino-South Tyrol region: 52 (Cooperatives: 21)
Electricity distributors in Italy: 123
Source: CSEA
