Carmine Biello is an Executive Manager who works in the energy field and who has lived the cycle of national liberalization of the sector from different angles, always holding positions of responsibility in the development of Italian private companies. In recent years he has dedicated himself to the renewable energy sector and, in general, to that of the Energy Transition. The years up to 2030 will be decisive with respect to the full decarbonization goals for 2050: no mistakes are allowed. Eng. Carmine Biello talks to us about a reflection he shared with Massimo Degli Esposti (www.vaielettrico.it), entitled “The role of gas: the importance of a wingman”.
Interview with Eng. Carmine Biello
Ing. Biello, how did the metaphor of the “follower” come about?
It arises above all from the fact that that of the “ferry”, now dominant, seems to me a bit ungenerous, not only with respect to the active and supporting role that natural gas has had and is having in the scenario of our electricity generation, but also with respect to the efforts very important, in their own way courageous, that we have done to modernize our electricity system and make ourselves independent from imports.
In the field of energy, cycles are always long and today we have one of the most efficient and environmentally virtuous power generation parks in the world thanks to a large cycle of investments that began at the end of the last century, when Italy chose to focus ( more or less consciously and orderly) on the most valuable and least polluting source there was (even if expensive).
Among other things, this has allowed us to move almost as a “first mover” on the path of decarbonization, in particular the abandonment of fuel oil and coal and the parallel development of renewable sources.
We come to the role of gas with respect to the energy transition.
A new investment cycle awaits us, even more impressive, complex and accelerated than the previous one, but this time we can face it with fewer risks and criticalities, being able to count on an enviable complex of energy infrastructures (power plants, electricity networks, gas networks) and on a basic source still with many more qualities than defects, still with “a lot of breath” for the next few years.
On the other hand, until recently we had the aspiration to become a “European gas hub” and it must be recognized that we have managed to conquer a leadership position in the gas sector in Europe, with undisputed excellence in terms of infrastructure, as well as at the level of the industrial chain.
So how long will we have to rely on natural gas?
The hardest tests await us now, the ones that must lead us to the total decarbonization of half a century. We need to massively grow:
- Renewable sources (ie solar and wind), with absolute priority
- Le batterie
- Energy efficiency and flexibility of demand
- The consistency and flexibility of the networks (gas and electricity)
All this having to support an ever greater electrification of consumption and completing the abandonment of the most polluting fossil sources as soon as possible.
In short, a series of talents must be brought to the goal that must be “protected” and controlled during their growth, to prevent them from losing their pace or, on the contrary, being burned out in advance: it is a matter of working hard, for a long time, with reliability, without sparing, adapting to everything, and then step aside at the right time. That’s what a good follower in cycling does.
But isn’t the development of renewables enough?
In the future scenario of our electricity generation, certainly dominated by renewable sources, there will be a need to balance the variability of production: this will be the task of batteries, energy efficiency and flexibility of demand, as well as other energy sources; In other words, it will be necessary to always be ready to cover the (unforeseeable) moments of decline in natural resources with “standstill” capacity: be it for minutes, hours, days or weeks. Therefore, the traditional roles of electricity generation systems may change or even disappear, including that of the wingman. Until then, however, our gas system will be vital to support the electricity system in the very delicate transition that awaits us (with the so-called “sector coupling”).
In other words, our wingman cannot give up, at least until someone comes to relieve him or until the “team game” changes.
So until when?
This will be the theme of the second part of my reflection. We will talk about it in an upcoming meeting.