Sardinia 2030: Prime Ministerial Decree focuses on renewables, storage, and the Tyrrhenian Link to decarbonize the island.

The Prime Ministerial Decree (DPCM) shaping Sardinia's energy future has been signed, the result of an agreement between ministries and the Region. The decree establishes urgent and strategic measures to strengthen renewable generation and storage, enhance electricity interconnections with the Italian mainland and Sicily through the Tyrrhenian Link project, and introduce a "virtual gas connection" with FSRU terminals and local networks. The stated objectives: security of supply, fair tariffs, and accelerated industrial decarbonization, starting with critical areas like Sulcis. A recent study indicates that the island could reach 100% renewable electricity generation by 2030.

New renewable capacity and storage: the basis for overcoming coal

The Prime Ministerial Decree establishes the urgent public utility of a series of interventions aimed at developing new renewable energy capacity in Sardinia , along with the installation of energy storage systems. These tools are essential not only to increase clean energy supply, but also to compensate for the natural variability of solar and wind power, ensuring stability in electricity supply and mitigating the risks associated with grid overload. Storage, in particular, becomes a technical lever for improving the management of distributed generation and effectively integrating production from intermittent sources.

Tyrrhenian Link and enhanced interconnections: reducing territorial limitations

One of the key elements of the plan is the expansion of electricity interconnections. The Tyrrhenian Link, an offshore transmission infrastructure that will connect Sardinia, Sicily, and the Italian Peninsula with east-west sections, will extend for approximately 970 km and will be capable of carrying up to 1,000 MW per line. Delivery is scheduled for 2028. This connection is essential for eliminating bottlenecks that limit the penetration of renewables on the island, promoting energy exchanges, and supporting large-scale projects. Strengthening the internal grid thus becomes an enabling factor for a cleaner and more efficient energy mix.

Virtual gas, fair tariffs, and industrial issues

The decree does not exclude gas : a " virtual connection " is introduced, which includes the use of floating regasification terminals (FSRU) and local networks to ensure security of supply, especially in isolated areas. At the same time, attention is placed on fair tariffs for Sardinians, ensuring that the island's energy situation is not penalized compared to the mainland. On the industrial front, areas like Sulcis are becoming a priority: the Prime Ministerial Decree is seen as an opportunity to respond to production crises with concrete decarbonization and revitalization measures, integrating industrial conversion as part of the energy strategy.

Towards 100% Renewable Energy: Scenario and Constraints to Overcome

A recent study by the Polytechnic University of Milan, the University of Cagliari, and the University of Padua explores the possibility of Sardinia achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2030, primarily through electrification, energy efficiency, biomass, solar, and wind power. However, significant constraints remain: local resistance to new plants, the Sardinian law on eligible areas currently awaiting a ruling from the Constitutional Court, and regulatory and authorization barriers that in many cases slow implementation. Achieving the "100% renewable" scenario will require clear policies, stable financing, and governance capable of balancing energy development and environmental protection.