There is a strategic opportunity in framing industrial development within the decarbonisation path.
The industrial transformation process implied by decarbonisation objectives entails several complexities. Technological solutions are not always mature or economical, and the transformation process needs to happen safeguarding competitiveness of production chains and jobs. However, there are solutions which can apply across the board and that are already available, such as the electrification of industrial process heat.
Italian manufacturing industry is responsible for 22% of national greenhouse gas emissions, approximately 80MtCO2. Of these, 63% derives from the direct combustion of fossil fuels, in particular natural gas, used for the production of thermal energy in production processes. Reducing demand for natural gas not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but contributes to national energy security goals.
Yet, electrifying today remains challenging for many industries which need an enabling political, economical and infrastructural ecosystem to move beyond the current barriers and seize the opportunities that come with electrification in terms of energy security and competitiveness.
The European Commission is working at an EU level plan to deploy electrification across the continent with an EU Electrification Action Plan. At the same time, the Italian government is working on a new national industrial strategy. These two policies need to be connected and coherent.
The vertical conference will therefore explore the threats and opportunities linked to electrification of industrial process heat involving consumers, technology providers, utilities and therefore identify synergic policies and actions which should be put forward to favor this solution within a coherent framework between the national and EU-wide levels.
Session 1 (9.30-11.15)
Electrification as a decarbonization solution: barriers and opportunities – Moderated by Andrea Ghianda, Head of Communications, and Marta Lovisolo, Senior Policy Advisor European Policy at ECCO
9:30-11:00
Roundtable sessions:
Electricity providers perspective
Antonio Ricciardi, Country Leader – EDP
Heat consumers’ representatives
Alessandro Bertoglio, Head of Energy – Assocarta
Fabrizio Raparelli, M&S Global Planet Care lead, EMEA &Asia – Sanofi
John Coverly, Technical director, energy advisory – AECOM
Technology provider perspective
Gaetano Sanfelice, Digital Marketing Manager – Daikin Applied Europe
Nicola Rossetti, Deputy Manager Heat Generation – Turboden
Lorenzo Mosna, Bid Manager Sales – MAN Energy Solutions
11.00-11.15
Presentation: Collection of electrification experiences among Italian industries (Post Editori, 2025). Fabio Stevanato, Managing director at ECF Italy, will interview Enrico Felter, General Counsel & Sustainability at Italgen SpA
11.15-11.45
Networking break
Industrial electrification: barriers and opportunities for decarbonising low heat processes
Session 2 (11.45-13.30)
11.45-12.15
What can Brussels do to help Italian industries overcome the barriers to electrification?
A conversation with Chiara Di Mambro, Director of Strategy Italy and Europe at ECCO
Moderated by Davide Panzeri, Europe programme Lead at ECCO
12.15-13.20
Panel discussion
Sem Oxenaar, Associate at Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
Anne Bolle, Head Advisor EU Policies, Chair of Eurelectric Working Group Industrial Competitveness and Innovation
Nicola Rega, Secretary at Cefic
Marco Giuli, Project Manager Climate-Neutral Industry EU at Agora Industry
Saverio Papa*, Head of energy policy at European Heat Pump Association – EHPA
13.20-13.30
Closing remarks
Simultaneous English-Italian translation will be available at all conference events
Agenda in progress
*Invited Speakers
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