Italy is rapidly transforming into a world-leader in technological innovation across many sectors from Fintech to Aerospace to E-Mobility. At the Voice of Business, we are always on the lookout for Italian companies and individuals that are leading the way in this transformation and that is one of the reasons we keep returning to the energy giant, Enel. We have featured the Enel Group in the past in interviews with CEO Francesco Starace, Enel X Way CEO Elisabetta Ripa and now this week, Alexis Christoforous interviews Enel X CEO Francesco Venturini. Whether it is the fact that Enel provides electricity to 15% of the world population, or the paradigm-shifting concept of e-vehicles as 'batteries-on-wheels' that give back to the energy grid, the leveraging of a customer base larger than Europe to create their own fintech products, or their vision of competing with China in the burgeoning E-Bus market, Venturini efficiently sketches out the public, private, moral and practical calculus that undergirds this cutting edge energy giant's mission. |
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By Alexis Christoforous As one of the world’s largest utilities, the Italian energy giant Enel provides energy to half a billion people every day. Enel X is the advanced energy services global business line of Enel. “The general idea behind Enel X was how do we capitalize on this big customer base in such a way that instead of just selling the commodity, we can also sell other services and products,” CEO Francesco Venturini tells The Voice of Business. He says the company has two missions: digitalization and electrification. “Since Enel is so big and has such a big balance sheet, then we started to invest in different things, not just energy, but financial services, just to give you an example,” Venturini said. Those financial services include things like ultra-broadband and digital payments. “The brand is very strong and our customers were more than willing to buy different things or be serviced in a different way from Enel,” he said. “Look at what other big digital giants are doing, the Amazons, the Googles, the Apples, they are getting closer and closer to their customers through payments,” said Venturini. The company has been able to provide those services and products through a combination of in-house tools, as well as through acquisitions. “When we built Enel X, we really discovered that we owned a credit card company in LATAM, and it was a very successful one, and we leveraged on that business,” he said. “We leveraged on the fact that in Italy we have such a strong know-how, we went out, bought a few small startups and built infrastructure that we needed to get into fintech.” |
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Venturini explained that another way Enel X engages directly with consumers is through the company’s home ecosystem, which has grown since its inception in 2017 to enhance the “smart home.” Venturini pointed to the company’s Sun Plug and Play which can be installed on a balcony, metal railing or masonry parapet. He said it boosts the sustainability of household consumption and renewable energy production to help customers save money and energy. |
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Another way Enel X is promoting a more energy efficient world is by installing its award-winning Juicebox electric-vehicle charging stations throughout Europe and North America. “We need to have a Juicebox in every single house that has two functions. Number one, it can help to charge your car,” he said. “Number two, which is very important too, it makes you be a good citizen of the network of the future. Because remember the car is a big, huge battery on four wheels. It can be utilized to drive around and at the same time to support the grid.” |
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As part of its mission to help people and things move around efficiently, Enel X recently teamed up with the British electric vehicle developer Arrival to test a battery-electric bus in Italy. They will carry out the tests at the Vallelunga circuit. If successful, Arrival will become part of Enel X’s portfolio for public transport providers. Enel X targets to serve more than 20,000 electric buses by 2030 and claims to be the world’s largest supplier of e-bus solutions outside of China. It currently operates over 3,200 electric buses. Despite all the technological advancements, Venturini acknowledges that if price matters when it comes to living efficiently and sustainably. “If it's not price-competitive, it doesn't work,” he explained. “So I think that's what we are discovering the fact that we need to accelerate investing more and more into renewables…but with a need to be competitive in price. He said the next big transformation for the energy industry will be regulation. “What is true is the regulation usually comes after many things already happen. It's reactive, not proactive,” he said. “There is already a big push towards electrification. What the regulation needs to do is to design the new world, understanding that we need to exploit all the different resources because now we have the technology, where before it was impossible.” “Energy transition is a great opportunity for everyone,” Venturini added. “I think there are infinite possibilities.” |
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For the full interview with Francesco Venturini please click on the link below! |
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CEO of Italy's Enel X on the Future of EnergyBy Alexis Christoforous As one of the world's largest utilities, the Italian energy giant Enel provides energy to half a billion people every day. Enel X is the advanced energy services global business line of Enel. |
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And...In case you missed earlier articles and interviews from Season 2 you can find them here! |
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Tech Entrepreneur Wants to Make Italy the Next Silicon ValleyAs a serial entrepreneur, Fabrizio Capobianco has successfully founded and sold at least half a dozen tech companies in his decades long career. Now, at 51-years old, he is ready to prime the next generation of entrepreneurs in his home country of Italy. "I want to do something for the country," Capobianco told The Voice of Business. |
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Master Brand Designer On Why Italy Needs a 'Ministry of Beauty'Maurizio di Robilant, President & CEO of Robilant Associati speaks with Alexis Christoforous about his firm's quest to find each company's essence and soul, the importance of having an empathic relationship with his clients, the challenges of selling the idea of Italy to Italians, and his belief that there is a unique competitive identity which gives every country a marketing edge. |
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The CEO of Engineering on How the Metaverse Will Revolutionize work and PlayBy Alexis Christoforous The metaverse may be in its infancy, but Maximo Ibarra, CEO of the Rome, Italy-based digital technology company Engineering is preparing for the future with immersive virtual apps. Ibarra tells The Voice of Business that Engineering is pouring resources into innovative technologies in the world of healthcare, finance, fashion, and retail to guide its clients through their journey into "the digital business transformation." |
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Enel X Way Charges Up EVs for Big Business Partners in the USBy Alexis Christoforous Enel X Way is making a big push to expand its network of electric vehicle charging stations across North America. The global smart e-mobility platform of Italy's Enel Group has partnered with U.S.-based Stable Software to provide businesses and cities with information on where charging stations are needed most. |
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Female CEO Steers Italian E-Mobility Firm from Start-up to Motor Valley LeaderBy Alexis Christoforous In the heart of Italy's Motor Valley, nestled among auto legends Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini, is the electric motorcycle company Energica. One of the world's leading EV motorcycle manufacturers, Energica recently sold a 70% stake in the family-run business to the U-S based electric vehicle company, Ideanomics (IDEX). |
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See you next week! Fernando Napolitano, Founder and CEO Newest Media |
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