Today, the European Commission published the 2024 edition of EU Energy in Figures, an annual statistical pocketbook providing information on the energy sector in the EU. This edition covers data for 2022, and highlights facts such as that the EU continues to make progress in increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix, which rose to 25% in 2022 compared to 19% in 2021.
In order to ensure that the EU stays on track to reach its climate goals and increase energy security, it is vital to have up-to-date data driving decision making. The pocketbook covers official energy data for the EU as a whole and per individual EU country. It provides statistical data on energy topics such as import dependencies, renewables deployment, energy intensity, and more.
Increased renewable energy sources will help the EU transition towards a prosperous, sustainable, climate-compatible and independent economy. In recent years, Europe has been generating more renewable energy and a growing share of its energy consumption is met through renewable sources.
Solar panels on rooftops, electric cars and wind turbines on the horizon are becoming quite common and ordinary sights across Europe. Yet, fossil fuels remain the largest source of energy.
While not without impact, replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources like solar, wind and biomass, helps reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, as well as contributes to increasing Europe''s energy independence.
Renewable and clean energy will play a vital role in determining Europe's ability to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, while ensuring a steady supply of energy at affordable prices. Although already underway, the transition towards a clean and renewable energy system needs to speed up and transform key sectors, including transport, and put in place the infrastructure and governance needed. The European Green Deal and its policy initiatives, including RePowerEU, aim to facilitate this.
The European Green Deal is an ambitious EU roadmap and policy framework for actions that put Europe on a path towards sustainability by 2050. For the energy sector, the European Climate Law aims to make the EU climate neutral by 2050.
The revised Renewable Energy Directive also introduces a 32% binding minimum target for the share of renewables in the EU's gross final energy consumption by 2030. Member States have set national renewable energy targets for 2030 and must ensure that national fuel suppliers provide at least a 14% share of renewable energy in the total energy consumed in road and rail transport.
At the current rate, the prospects of meeting the existing 32% EU target for 2030 remain uncertain. Furthermore, in response to the hardships and global energy market disruption caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission presented the REPowerEU Plan. Among other measures, this plan proposes a more ambitious target of 45% by 2030, to pave the way for climate neutrality by 2050, but also to reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels.
Total net greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union dropped by 8% last year, marking significant progress towards climate neutrality for the EU. The huge drop was led by a significant decline in coal use and growth of renewable energy sources and supported by reduced energy consumption across Europe, according to estimated figures included in the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) ''Trends and Projections'' report.
Flexibility is the power system''s ability to adjust to the fluctuating generation and consumption of energy. Flexibility can be provided in different timeframes, such as days, weeks or seasons and by different technologies.
EU Member States need to massively ramp up their renewable power capacity in the coming years. This increase in renewables from variable sources, such as wind and solar, will also increase the need for ''flexibility'' in the EU electricity system.
A joint report by two EU agencies, EEA and ACER, demonstrates how Member States could exploit collaboration synergies to unlock flexibility and enhance energy security while contributing to long-term climate neutrality.
Renewable energy sources represented an estimated 24.1% of the European Union''s final energy use in 2023. The share is estimated to have increased by one percentage point when compared with 2022, still largely driven by strong growth in solar power. The share is also amplified by a small 2023 reduction in non-renewable energy consumption. Meeting the new minimum EU target of 42.5% for 2030 will demand more than doubling the rates of renewables deployment seen over the past decade and a deep transformation of the European energy system.
Sweden, Finland and Latvia had the highest renewable energy shares among Member States in 2023. All three countries have strong hydropower industries and wide use of solid biofuels. Luxembourg and Belgium reported the lowest deployment of renewables, of 12% and 14% of their respective total energy consumption.
Understanding the trade-offs involved in placing turbines in sensitive and vulnerable coastal waters, coupled with an integrated planning approach when expanding marine protected areas, can help to mitigate potential negative environmental impacts, according to the EEA briefing "Harnessing offshore wind while preserving the seas".
It notes that the installation of offshore wind farms can be combined with other measures that benefit the environment. Offshore wind deployment can also lead to positive impacts on the local environment, such as leading to the creation of new habitats, based on artificial reefs.
The share of energy from renewable sources used for road and rail transport in the European Union increased from less than 2% in 2005 to 10.1% in 2023, according to preliminary EEA data. These sources include biofuels, renewable electricity, or hydrogen and synthetic fuels of renewable origin.
The uptake of renewable energy sources for transportation varies greatly among EU Member States. Sweden and Finland show the highest shares of renewable energy in 2023, with 29.5% and 19.4% respectively.
Preliminary estimates for 2023 display that eight countries have reached a level more than 10% of renewable energy used in transport. These were Netherlands, Malta, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Italy, Germany, and Spain. France had a share that was very close to 10%.
People, institutions and businesses can help deploy renewable energy and reduce fuel imports by becoming prosumers, who both produce and consume energy. For example, by installing solar panels on their roofs or by being part of an energy community, prosumers can lower their bills while supporting the energy transition. They can also provide other services to the power grid such as energy storage.
Prosumers still face many challenges, including costs, regulatory barriers, or lack of volunteers or expertise. However, opportunities for prosumers are growing with technological development and, importantly, an increasingly supportive EU policy framework. Prosumers are now a key element of the recent REPowerEU proposal and its Solar Rooftop initiative.
The EEA dashboard shows the estimated annual effects of the increased renewable energy sources consumption since 2005 on fossil fuels and greenhouse gases, but also on major air pollutant emissions.
About Europe renewable energy bloemfontein
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Europe renewable energy bloemfontein have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Europe renewable energy bloemfontein for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Europe renewable energy bloemfontein featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
Related Contents
