The energy industry It is one of the pillars of the global economy: it powers our homes, supports industrial activities, allows mobility and guarantees the functioning of infrastructures. However, the way in which we produce and consume energy has a environmental impact huge.
Le Fossil sources, still predominant today in global energy mix, are among the main managers of the climate change, air pollution and the progressive degradation of natural ecosystems.
In this context, the renewables represent one of the most promising and strategic answers for building a more sustainable future. It is often talked about, in the media and in political agendas, but we do not always know its fundamental characteristics, the real potential or the mechanisms with which they can transform our energy system.
In this article, we will analyze in detail what is meant by renewable energy, what are the main sources available today, how they are evolving at a global and European level, and how they can represent a concrete lever for decarbonization for companies.
Let's start!
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What are renewable energies
Le renewables They are sources of energy that yes regenerate naturally over time and that, unlike fossil fuels, they do not run out with use. Thanks to their ability to renew themselves and to the reduced or no greenhouse gas emission, represent a fundamental pillar in the transition to a sustainable energy system and low carbon emissions.
Renewable energies have different pluses:
- they reduce air pollution;
- they preserve the environment in which we live;
- promote autonomy from fossil fuels.
For these reasons, they are at the center of energy policies of many countries and the subject of increasing attention from citizens, companies and institutions.
However, despite being talked about more and more often, the concept of 'renewable energy' can still generate doubts or inaccuracies, even among professionals in the sector. What really distinguishes renewable energy from all others is the availability of a natural resource that is regenerates continuously and spontaneous, in times compatible with human consumption. This makes them theoretically inexhaustible, as long as they are used responsibly and sustainably.
On the contrary, the Fossil sources, such as coal, oil and natural gas, derive from finite resources, accumulated over millions of years, and whose extraction involves a progressive Depletion of deposits. Their use, in addition to contributing significantly to air pollution and climate change, is by definition not sustainable in the long run.
According to the official definition of ENEA (National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), are considered renewable:
“non-fossil energy sources that, due to their intrinsic characteristics, regenerate at least at the same rate at which they are consumed, are freely available in nature, not subject to depletion due to anthropogenic use or exploitation and for which there is a technology that allows their use for energy purposes.”
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Which are the renewable energies
According to the statutes, in Italy, the sources that allow the production of Electricity starting from sun, wind, water, geothermal resources, tides, waves, as well as from the transformation of organic and inorganic waste and biomass. This classification reflects theEuropean orientation and international in promoting sustainable and circular energy technologies.
Let's look at each of these energy sources in detail.
Solar energy
It uses the sun's radiation to generate electricity, through photovoltaic panels, or heat, through solar thermal systems. It is a clean, abundant and accessible source, suitable for both small domestic and large power plants.
Wind energy
It uses the force of the wind to produce electricity through wind turbines, installed on land or in the open sea. The efficiency of this source depends on the geographical location and the intensity of the available wind.
Hydroelectric energy
It uses the movement of water, typically in rivers, dams or mountain basins, to drive turbines connected to electric generators. It is a historically consolidated technology, capable of providing energy in a continuous and reliable way.
Geothermal energy
It derives the heat present in the deep layers of the Earth's crust to produce electricity or heating. It is a constant resource independent of weather conditions, but it requires geologically favorable areas.
Biomass energy
It derives from the direct combustion or transformation of organic material, such as agricultural waste, wood, food waste or biodegradable waste. It is a programmable source and can also contribute to sustainable waste management.
Marine energy
It includes various technologies under development that exploit wave motion, tides, currents and the difference in temperature between surface and deep water. The potential is high, especially for coastal countries, but large scale deployment is still limited.
For effective planning of energy availability from renewable sources, it is essential to know how to distinguish between programmable sources and intermittent sources.
- Programmable sources: they include biomass, geothermal energy and, in many cases, hydroelectric power. These sources are based on resources available in a continuous or manageable way, ensuring stable and predictable production, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Intermittent sources: like wind and photovoltaic, they depend on uncontrollable environmental factors (wind and sun). For this reason, their capacity to produce energy varies over time, making storage solutions or integration with other sources necessary to ensure the continuity of the electricity service.
Understanding these differences is critical to evaluating the role that each source can play in a sustainable and efficient energy mix.
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Energy transition: numbers and trends for renewables
In recent years, renewable energy sources have experienced asignificant expansion, becoming one of the pillars of energy transition global.
Despite this, the global energy mix, or the combination of sources used to generate energy, still remains strong unbalanced in favor of fossil fuels. Currently, in addition to the82% of global electricity comes from fossil sources, while Renewable They cover about the 15% of total production: a percentage that is still modest, but which still represents a Historical record.
In Europe, however, the change is faster and more decisive.
In 2023, the European Union generated the 44% Of your own electricity from renewable sources, surpassing gas and coal as the main sources of production for the first time. THEAeolian And the photovoltaics It is the renewable technologies that have shown the faster growth, going so far as to cover together the 27% of European electricity production.
Italy is also part of this positive trend: in 2023, renewable sources met the 46.31% of the national electricity requirement, confirming a progressive alignment with community objectives.
To promote further acceleration in this direction and to contribute concretely to the achievement of the objectives of European Green Deal, in May 2025 the Council of Ministers approved the Infrastructure Decree 2025 (Decree-Law no. 73 of 21 May 2025).
This new standard aims to simplify authorization procedures for public works and, as part of the energy transition, introduces the so-called 'acceleration zones' for renewable energy. These are areas identified according to environmental, landscape and logistical criteria, in which the time for the installation of solar, wind and other clean technologies will be drastically reduced. An important step towards a more efficient, modern and sustainable energy system.
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How renewable energy can support companies in promoting a decarbonization strategy
When a company decides to embark on a path towards a greater sustainability, not only contributes to the protection of the environment and the well-being of local communities, but it can also generate concrete economic advantages. To transform this commitment into measurable results, it is essential to start from knowledge of your impact environmental.
The first step is to Calculation of the carbon footprint, or the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions generated by business activities. This analysis allows you to:
- identify the phases of the production process with the greatest impact;
- identify areas in which to intervene with priority.
Once the data relating to emissions has been acquired, it is possible to develop a decarbonization strategy effective, aimed at progressively reducing its ecological footprint. The information collected becomes the basis for planning targeted actions that improve energy efficiency, reduce consumption and increase the company's competitiveness.
Among the most widespread and accessible decarbonization interventions is precisely the replacement of fossil fuels with the use of energy from renewable sources. Companies can take two main roads:
- installation of proprietary photovoltaic systems, or other renewable sources, for example on the roofs of corporate buildings or in dedicated areas;
- purchase of electricity from certified suppliers that operate exclusively with renewable sources (useful for companies that do not have space available for the installation of their own systems)
Decarbonizing is not just a ethical choice, but also a real economic opportunity.
Thanks to the support of RevoCharge Systems (RCS), Up2You's technical partner for business decarbonization projects, we have analyzed the main economic variables related to the installation of photovoltaic systems.
The results show how the investment in a photovoltaic system can guarantee a economic return (ROI) between 12.5% and 16.5% over a time horizon of 6-8 years. Installation costs vary between 800 and 1,100 euros per kW installed, compared to a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions and a Reduction of bill costs.
Download the guide and discover the ROI of the main decarbonization interventions!
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Offsetting residual emissions through renewable energy: Up2You's Technology package
Even the most ambitious decarbonization strategies fail to allow companies to achieve the goal of emitting zero CO₂.
In fact, they exist residual emissions inevitable, linked, for example, to complex industrial processes, transport or other activities that are difficult to eliminate, which require complementary solutions to be managed responsibly.
To face this challenge, Up2You combines reduction actions with a structured offer of offsetting emissions through the support of Carbon removal projects with high added value. All projects supported by Up2You are diplomas according to the main international standards, such as Verra and Gold Standard, and are selected on the basis of environmental, social and economic criteria.
I offsetting packages proposed by Up2You group projects by thematic areas, allowing companies to choose solutions in line with their objectives of corporate sustainability. Each package is designed to offer a full coverage of the main aspects of sustainability: from environmental protection to social development, to the economic progress of local communities.
Among these, the package Up2You Technology focuses on projects that enhance the use of technology to generate concrete benefits for the climate and for the environment. Supporting these initiatives means encouraging the production and use of clean energy, actively contributing to the reduction of CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere.
Currently, the projects included mainly involve generation of energy from renewable sources and the spread of high-efficiency solar cookers, used in areas of the world where the implementation of such technologies would otherwise be uneconomic.
These interventions not only produce environmental benefits, but they also generate positive impacts at the social level:
- create thousands of jobs in disadvantaged environments;
- improving working conditions and salaries;
- promote local economic growth.
In many cases, the activities related to the projects have stimulated scientific research, contributing to the conservation of fauna and flora through collaborations with academic institutions and national research centers.
Choosing the Up2You Technology package therefore means credibly compensating for residual emissions, supporting a development model which combines innovation, inclusion and environmental protection.
