Francesco Corvaro spent last week in Washington engaging US Department of Energy officials on nuclear fission and fusion, geothermal power and biofuels. He highlighted strong US interest in Italy’s high‑quality supply chain and warned that nuclear power is essential to meet growing electricity demand alongside renewables
Washington mission. Last week, Francesco Corvaro, Italy’s special envoy for climate change, visited Washington for meetings at the US Department of Energy to advance collaboration on key clean‑energy technologies.
- “It was fruitful to engage with experts and policymakers who share a strong commitment to advancing these technologies,” Corvaro noted on LinkedIn.
- These talks follow Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump, where she pledged Italy’s readiness to purchase more US LNG and deepen nuclear partnerships.
Technological focus. The discussions centred on several issues.
- Nuclear fission and fusion: Exploring both proven and next‑generation reactors.
- Geothermal energy: Tapping Earth’s heat for baseload power.
- Biofuels: Developing sustainable fuels for transport and industry.
Supply chain collaboration. In an interview with our sister website Formiche.net, Corvaro reported “great interest” from the US in Italy’s energy‑technology supply chain.
- “They see high quality in our suppliers—this is not about subordination, but full collaboration,” he said, adding that memoranda of understanding are “a very reasonable prospect.”
A nuclear imperative. Corvaro warned that without nuclear power, Italy risks forfeiting its energy security.
- “Renewables have their role, but cannot alone meet soaring demand—imagine every car being electric: that’s a massive load. Nuclear could be the answer.”
- While renewables remain vital, Corvaro’s trip underscores the need for a diversified energy mix—including nuclear and emerging technologies—to ensure Italy meets future electricity and climate goals.
