EU on target for 2020 renewable energy contribution
Wind energy will generate 14% of Europe’s total electricity demand in 2020, more than any other renewable source. Photo by Peter Barker
The EU 27 will exceed its target of meeting 20 % of its gross final energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020 according to the European Wind Energy Association, which has published its analysis of the 27 National Renewable Energy Action Plans submitted by the EU Member States to the European Commission.
‘Taken together the Action Plans show that the EU-27 will meet 20.7 % of its 2020 energy consumption from renewables’, said Justin Wilkes, policy director of the EWEA. The National Action Plans show that one third (34%) of EU electricity demand will be supplied from renewables by 2020.
Wind energy will generate 14% of Europe’s total electricity demand in 2020 (494 TWh from 213 GW installed capacity), more than any other renewable source, up from 4.2% in 2009. Ireland will be the country with the highest wind energy penetration level at 36.4% of its total electricity demand, followed by Denmark at 31%.
15 Member States plan to exceed their national target, led by Bulgaria at +2.8% above their target, Spain (+2.7%), Greece (+2.2%), Hungary (+1.7) and Germany (+1.6%). 10 Member States will meet their national target, and just two Member States, Luxembourg (-2.1%) and Italy (-0.9%), have informed the European Commission that they envisage using the cooperation mechanisms to meet their national targets.
‘It is very encouraging that 25 of the 27 EU countries intend to either exceed or meet their target’,said Wilkes. ‘This shows the vast majority of EU countries clearly understand the benefits of deploying renewable energy technologies, particularly wind power.’
The 34% of EU electricity demand met by renewables in 2020 is made up of 14% from wind energy (10% onshore, 4% offshore), 10.5% from hydro, 6.6% from biomass, 2.4% from solar photovoltaic, 0.5% from CSP, 0.3% from geothermal and 0.1% from ocean.
Meanwhile, the UK Government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change published its quarterly Energy Statistics just before Christmas, which show that renewable energy made its highest ever contribution (8.6%) to the nation’s electricity supply during the third quarter of 2010. The overall renewables contribution was up by 23.1% over the same period in 2009, with wind energy up by 36.1% year on year.
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