BIRDIE-S Build the Innovative Renewable and Digitally Inclusive Electrified-Sardinia

July 7,2023

Sardinia, when compared to other regions of Italy, found itself charting a unique course towards a more profound electrification of energy consumption. The island's geographical, climatic, and socio-economic attributes were all catalysts for this significant shift.

The insularity of Sardinia has played a decisive role towards this path, determining the region’s isolation from the mainland natural gas transmission grid. This distinctive characteristic has ushered in a widespread permeation of electrical power throughout the island over the years.

Against this unique backdrop, a dynamic collaboration between the University of Cagliari, the Polytechnic University of Turin, and the Enel Foundation led to the launch of the BIRDIE-S research project. The ambition of the project was to outline a blueprint energy development for Sardinia, hinged upon economic, environmental, technological, and demographic underpinnings. The research team was committed to rigorously evaluating the advantages associated with electrification policies, discriminating between industrial production and end-users in the process.

BIRDIE-S examined Sardinia's energy system and patterns, delineating a future energy demand trajectory and an optimal mix for electricity production. This assessment took into account the availability of resources, the production costs, and the state of the energy infrastructure. The analysis carried out in BIRDIE-S rested on four strategic cornerstones: the accelerated energy demand in the service sector versus the industrial sector, a growing environmental consciousness influencing consumer decisions, a reduction in the use of internal combustion vehicles, and a downward trend in electricity costs.

The ultimate findings pointed to a marked increase in efficiency and a considerable decrease in total energy consumption, fueled by the expanding presence of the electrical vector. From an environmental point of view, these outcomes resulted in a concrete curbing of fossil fuels and in a significant reduction in harmful emissions. Economically, an observable decrease in energy and carbon intensity led to lower energy costs for households, while from a social perspective, the growing reliance on renewable resources was expected to decrease mortality and respiratory illnesses, thereby offsetting healthcare costs.

The momentum of electrification could also unveil new employment opportunities, particularly within the renewable energy and building energy-efficiency sectors, as these areas have a significant need for a new generation of workers who have received specialized training for managing the energy transition.

In summary, the BIRDIE-S project underscored the benefits and opportunities of electrification, offering objective data and analytical tools to support the framing and execution of energy transition policies. This would drive forward Sardinia's energy transition and decarbonization efforts, making the island a benchmark for the rest of Italy. Key recipes to enable this shift include an urgent need for simplification of authorization procedures for renewable energy installations, strong infrastructural enhancements, increased promotion of flexible energy solutions, and specific interventions tailored to each sector:

• In the field of transport, an effortless implementation of charging infrastructures and fostering effective collaboration amongst electric mobility stakeholders;

• For the industry, the use of the legal framework as a lever to promote the adoption of greener technologies, encourage the creation of technology transfer labs, and improve the energy demand-response mechanisms;

• Within the building sector, a gentle transition from fossil fuel boilers to heat pumps, facilitated by a one-stop assistance platform for building renovation.

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