New generation capacity in the EU: renewables on top

This was an increase from 57 per cent in 2008 and amounted to 17GW of the 27.5 GW total generation capacity installed in 2009. For the second year running, wind energy accounted for the largest share of the new capacity, providing 10.2 GW or 38 per cent.

In absolute terms, renewables produced 19.9 per cent, or 608 TWh of Europe’s electricity last year.

The oldest and most established source, hydro-electric power, accounts for the largest share of this at 11.6 per cent, followed by wind at 4.2 per cent, biomass 3.4 per cent, and solar at a lowly 0.4 per cent.

But in terms of the new renewables capacity added last year, 37.1 per cent was wind power, 21 per cent photovoltaics, 2.1 per cent biomass, 1.4 per cent hydro and 0.4 per concentrated solar power. The remainder came from gas-fired power stations, at 24 per cent, coal-fired power stations, 8.7 per cent, oil, 2.1 per cent, waste incineration, 1.6 per cent and nuclear, 1.6 per cent.

The report concludes that if current growth rates are maintained, in 2020 up to 1400 TWh of electricity could be generated from renewable sources, accounting for approximately 35-40 per cent of overall electricity consumption in the EU. Depending on the success of parallel efforts to increase electricity efficiency, this would contribute significantly to the fulfilment of the 20 per cent target for energy generation from renewables.

There are still issues to be resolved if the targets are to be met, including ensuring fair access to grids for electricity from disparate, intermittent renewable sources, substantial public R&D support, and the adaptation of current electricity systems to accommodate renewable electricity.

The JRC has produced the annual Renewable Energy Snapshots since 2007, to give an up-to-date picture of the EU’s progress towards the binding target of 20 per cent for energy generation from renewable sources by 2020.