Justice Interview: Duccio Baldi (Co-founder of ENCO)

In March 2022, we interviewed Duccio Baldi, Co-Founder and CTO of Enco. Duccio is an energy engineer focused on the energy-transition with a technical background in energy systems but also with experience in other fields, such as energy policies and socio-economic impacts, gained across public and private sector, and academia.  We invite you to learn more about how he opened an energy company, what plans Italy has in switching to renewable energy,  can we get green energy for free , and also what awaits renewables in 2022. 

Could you please tell us a little about your company?  How did the idea come about and how did you create the company?

First of all, Enco is a 3.0 start-up, where the economic, social and environment spheres are perfectly balanced. Our mission is clear: give people back control over their own energy, 100% renewable of course. In fact, everyone can share renewable energy easily and transparently. How? By creating energy communities in a simple and transparent way, equipping citizens with the tools they need to produce energy on the roof of their homes, and share it with their neighbours, without having to deal with red tape. Therefore, Enco stands for ENergy COmmunities. 

Tommaso, the other co-founder and friend, was already working on energy communities at IRENA so when we met in Florence for a beer last summer, we started talking about the Italian energy sector and the lack of this kind of solutions for the citizens. So we started officially working on Enco in September and step by step we arrived to create the company. 

What is the most difficult part of your job?

Remaining focused and creative while life happens around you. In a start-up the motivation to keep waking up in the morning, go to office, do 12 hours of work per day, each day of the week, needs to be originated inside of you. You wake up thinking of Enco and you go to sleep thinking of Enco. So, try to keep a balance between the start-up and your out-of-work life is fundamental and also very difficult. 

Does your country have specific targets for the transition, for example, 80% of the electricity received from renewable resources in 2025?

The Italian government pledged to be carbon neutral, in its electricity consumptions, by 2050. The Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (INECP) states that electricity generation will see the complete phase out coal by 2025, along with a growing share of electricity produced by renewable sources going from 72% in 2030 to 100% by 2050. The selected technology to do so are solar PVs.

Is it possible in the future to make green energy inexpensive for the average citizen?

Good point. Well, hypothetically in a small country with high potential in investing in infrastructure yes. However, the future shouldn't aim that direction. In fact, people must be educated about electricity usage and consumption. If the average citizen gets its energy for free it will underestimate its value ending in an overconsumption of energy, resulting then in a system that is not efficient. Let's focus in providing 100% renewable and reliable energy at a cheaper cost, and locally produced.

What challenges will green energy face in 2022?

The main challenge that green energy is going to confront with this year it's about manufacturing slowdowns due to a lack of REE - Rare Earth Elements. These elements are complicated to obtain nowadays but at the same time fundamental to build solar panels, wind turbines etc. People are ready for the energy transition, governments, and private sector not. Sadly, what is happening in Ukraine and its repercussion on the EU energy supply made it clear that we cannot rely anymore on the existing energy system. Renewables are the only democratic source of energy that prevent governments to be dependant from other countries. I am confident that 2022 will sign a positive milestone in the history of renewables.