by InTrieste
An energy-focused roadshow organized by Italy’s public energy services operator, GSE, brought national and regional leaders to Trieste last Friday for a series of events aimed at advancing Friuli Venezia Giulia’s strategy for a sustainable energy transition.
The day opened with the signing of a cooperation agreement between the regional government and GSE at the Palazzo della Regione. The accord is intended to align regional initiatives with national programs, streamlining public funding and reducing overlaps in efforts to improve energy efficiency and environmental protection.
Massimiliano Fedriga, the region’s president, described the partnership as “fundamental,” noting that coordinated planning would allow regional and national incentives to “work in synergy” to support long-term sustainability goals. He highlighted the cross-border Hydrogen Valley project with Slovenia and Croatia as an example of the region’s broader vision.
The event drew senior officials including Vannia Gava, Italy’s deputy minister for the environment and energy security; GSE president Paolo Arrigoni; Trieste mayor Roberto Dipiazza; and regional assessors Pierpaolo Roberti and Fabio Scoccimarro.
Roberti, who oversees local autonomies, underscored the scale of investments made in collaboration with municipalities, stating that more than one billion euros in projects supporting local communities had been carried out over the past seven years, many involving upgrades to public buildings where energy efficiency is “a fundamental step.”
The roadshow extended beyond institutional meetings. In the morning, GSE representatives visited the A. Volta Technical Institute for a session titled “Energy Transition: GSE Meets the Schools.” The initiative brought together students and representatives from the regional vocational training system, with education assessor Alessia Rosolen emphasizing the importance of exposing young people to experts in strategic sectors.
“Students are our most important resource for building the future,” Rosolen said, noting the region’s continued investment in education and advanced training.
The final event of the day focused on the business community. Held at the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce, the meeting — “Energy Transition: GSE Meets Businesses and Associations” — gathered chamber presidents Antonio Paoletti and Giovanni Da Pozzo alongside regional officials and GSE leadership.
Scoccimarro, who manages environmental and energy policy, called for a unified and participatory approach to overcoming the “fragmentation and complexity” that often characterize the sector. He outlined the region’s plan to co-design a large-scale regional energy community with leading territorial stakeholders as founding partners, framing it as a strategic collaboration rather than a top-down initiative.
Together, the events signaled the region’s effort to position itself as a proactive player in Italy’s transition toward cleaner and more efficient energy systems.
