Natural gas continues to be fundamental for Italy's energy system stability. Demand has rebounded after the contraction of 2022-23, representing a strategic component in the Italian energy system and economic production fabric. Integrating through existing sustainable vector infrastructure like biogas and hydrogen is key to guiding the energy transition.

After the contraction of consumption recorded during the energy crisis of 2022-23, gas demand has rebounded, registering a +2.1% increase in 2025 and +1% in the first seven months of 2026. Gas also plays a crucial role in thermal electricity generation: in July 2026, gas consumption for thermal electricity generation increased by 18% compared to the same month of the previous year. The industry continues to rely on gas, especially in sectors characterized by high-temperature processes, while in the residential sector, gas meets nearly 50% of the energy demand and guarantees heating for about 70% of homes. 'On about 16 million homes in energy classes F-G, the installation of heat pumps is technically feasible in less than 6 million units and, considering economic constraints, in less than 2 million,' explains Proxigas president Pier Lorenzo Dell'Orco.

Even in the district heating sector, natural gas is a central resource: 'its usage is equal to 70% of consumption,' while in cogeneration 'it feeds about 81% of installed capacity, while renewable sources contribute only for 8%.' The gas demonstrates to be a guarantee of security for national industrial competitiveness, ensuring flexibility and reliability in the energy transition. Looking only at electrification, in many cases incompatible with the characteristics of our buildings, risks being ineffective in achieving climate goals, as well as extremely costly for Italian families' pockets. These elements are added to the economic impact of climate policies.

The new ETS2 system will also affect buildings: assuming an average price of 60 euros per ton of CO2, the economic impact could be in the order of 160 euros per year per family. The network and existing infrastructure represent a strategic asset to accompany the evolution of the energy system towards progressively more sustainable vectors. Specifically, biogas, hydrogen and CO2-reduced or zero-content gas are the priority vectors for decarbonization.

The company has communicated that regulation supports the evolution of the sector to ensure efficiency and decarbonization, clearly distinguishing between established facts and conditional scenarios. The sources diverge only on precise projections, but confirm that gas remains central for cogeneration and residential heating. The data indicate that 70% of district heating consumption is met by gas, while renewables contribute only for 8%.

The expected developments include an increase in thermal electricity consumption of 18% in July 2026 and a growth in gas demand of 1% in the first months of 2026. The future challenge lies in integrating these sustainable vectors into existing infrastructure without compromising energy security. The data confirm that gas meets nearly 50% of the residential demand, but its role in cogeneration is even more significant.