Archive:Energy from renewable sources

Data from July 2013. Most recent data: Further Eurostat information, Main tables and Database. Planned article update: August 2014.

This article presents a detailed statistical overview of the production and consumption of energy from renewable sources in the European Union (EU). It is based on data compiled in accordance with accounting rules set down in the 'Renewable Energy Directive' 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources.

Renewable energy in the EU has grown strongly in recent years. This has been prompted by the 2009 Directive, in particular the legally binding targets for renewable energy. While the EU as a whole is on course to meet its 2020 targets, some Member States need to make additional efforts to meet their national targets.

Figure 1: Share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy, EU-28, 2004-2011 Source: (t2020_31))

Figure 2: Primary production of energy from renewable sources, EU-28, 1990-2011 Source: Eurostat (nrg_1071a) (nrg_1072a) (nrg_1073a)

Figure 3: Gross electricity generation from renewable sources, EU-28, 1990-2011 Source: Eurostat (nrg_105a)

Figure 4: Electricity generation capacity, EU-28, 1990-2011 Source: Eurostat (nrg_113a)

Figure 5: Primary production of liquid biofuels, EU-28, 1990-2011 Source: Eurostat (nrg_1073a)

Figure 6: Gross inland consumption of renewables, EU-28, 1990-2011 Source: Eurostat (nrg_1071a) (nrg_1072a) (nrg_1073a)

Figure 7: Renewable energy available for final consumption, EU-28, 1990-2011 Source: Eurostat

Table 1: Share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy Source: Eurostat (SHARES 2011) (t2020_31)

Table 2: Share of electricity from renewable sources in gross electricity consumption Source: Eurostat (SHARES 2011)

Table 3: Share of renewable energy sources in heating and cooling Source: Eurostat (SHARES 2011)

Table 4: Share of renewable energy sources in transport Source: Eurostat (SHARES 2011)

Figure 8: Share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy, 2011 Source: Eurostat for EU-28, IEA for other countries

Table 5: Share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy, 2011 Source: Eurostat for EU-28, IEA for other countries

Main statistical findings

After a period up until 2010 during which renewables were growing strongly, a combined effect of warm weather, slower progress by Member States in implementing the Renewable Energy Directive and Europe’s faltering economic situation led to a decrease in the use of renewable energy in 2011. However, the share of renewable sources in the gross final consumption of energy did increase since the consumption of fossil fuel energy decreased more than that of renewables. It is the transport sector’s share of renewables that has been the most affected by problems at national level in implementing the Directive.

Primary production of energy from renewable sources

Primary production of renewable energies is on a long-term increasing trend. It more than doubled between 1990 and 2011, increasing by 130 % with an average annual growth rate of 4.1 %. In 2011, the primary production of renewables declined by 2.8 %; this was mainly due to the annual variation in hydropower production. This is only the second decrease recorded since 1990 — the first in 2002 (-2.4 %) was also a consequence of hydropower variation. The Renewable Energy Directive requires that — for accounting purposes — hydropower and wind power production is normalised for annual variations. Primary production of renewable energies is shown in Figure 2 (figures for electricity production are not normalised, as provided for under the Directive).

Electricity generation from renewable sources

In 2011, gross electricity generation from renewables decreased by 0.3 % compared with 2010. However, the picture varies according to the different sources: a 17 % decrease in hydropower generation was compensated by increases in other sources, in particular solar (+99 %) and wind (+20 %). Between 1990 and 2011, total electricity generation from renewables increased by 119 %.

Hydropower plants generate by far the largest share of electricity from renewable energy sources. Electricity generation from hydropower increased by 7 % between 1990 and 2011, even while its share of total renewable electricity generation shrank from 94 % to 46 % in the same period. This is due to the more rapid expansion of electricity generation from other renewable sources. Wind power generation more than doubled over the period 2005-2011: since 2000, it has been the second largest contributor to renewable electricity, replacing wood and other solid biomass, which had held that position since 1990. Solar power electricity generation increased rapidly in recent years and in 2011 accounted for 7 % of all renewable electricity. Solid renewables (wood, other solid biomass, renewable wastes) are also used in conventional thermal generation power plants: their share grew from 4 % in 1990 to 14 % in 2011. Bioliquids and biogas, which was negligible in 1990, reached 6 % in 2011. Electricity generation from renewable sources is shown in Figure 3 (in this figure electricity production is not normalised in the area chart but the dashed line shows the total normalised electricity generation).

Installed capacity for renewable electricity generation

The available capacity of renewable electricity generation has increased significantly over the last 20 years. Wind power capacity started to increase rapidly already in the late 1990s and after 2005 we observe a boom in solar generation capacities. Additional capacity increases for other renewables were much more modest than for wind and solar. Solar and wind generation are intermittent types of electricity generation. The utilisation rate for solar and wind is much lower than for those renewables that are used in conventional thermal power stations (as well as compared with fossil fuels and nuclear). Pumped hydro storage power plants can be relatively easily used to deal with surplus electricity generation from intermittent sources. The capacity of pumped hydro storage power plants did not increase at rates comparable to the magnitude of increases for solar and wind. In order to put electricity generation capacities from renewable sources into perspective with regard to the whole electricity generation system in the EU, please note that the capacity of fossil fuel plants was in 2011 nearly 460 GW. Installed capacity for renewable sources, nuclear power and pumped hydro is shown in Figure 4.

Production of liquid biofuels in the EU

Production of liquid biofuels increased significantly from nearly non existing levels in 1990. Rapid increases were observed especially after year 2002 with an average annual growth rate between years 2000 and 2010 at 34%. However, in 2011 the production decreased compared to 2010 by 14%. Production of liquid biofuels is shown in Figure 5.

Imports and exports of renewables

Imports and exports of renewable energy products are very difficult to analyse and it is even more difficult to provide figures corresponding to import dependency that would be comparable with fossil fuels (coal, crude oil, natural gas). The major obstacle for detailed import/export analysis is that primary feedstock for solid, liquid and gaseous biofuels often compete for other non-energy uses. For example wood can be also used as material for furniture production as well as at the construction sites as building material. Energy statistics is tracking only quantities of renewable products for energy purposes, quantities of renewable products for non-energy purposes are not part of energy balances.

Another complication however comes from the missing data on the actual transformation sector feed stock input (for example the raw materials input into bio-refinery for production of biofuels). Therefore in the energy balances solid, liquid and gaseous biofuels produced in the EU appear under the "Primary production" heading contrary to production of fossil based secondary fuels which appear under "Transformation output" heading (for example the "Primary production" of motor gasoline or automotive diesel is zero in energy balances).

However we can focus in the analysis on the trade of liquid biofuels, concretely liquid biofuels that can be blended with gasoline/diesel or used as substitute for gasoline/diesel (for example ethanol for the E85 fuel specification to be used in so called flex fuel vehicle). Trade volumes of liquid biofuels (blended part within mineral fuel plus pure biofuels) shipped between EU Member States as well as in the international context are increasing. In 2011, EU-28 net imports of liquid biofuels accounted for 26% of their gross inland consumption. Net imports of biodiesel were at 24% and biogasoline at 41% of their consumption (accounts for the blended part within mineral fuel plus all amounts of pure biofuels).

Compared to the situation 2 years ago, net imports of biogasolines and biodiesels have doubled. This trend indicates that the issue of import dependency for liquid biofuels could in the longer term become a genuine concern, as is already the case for the import dependency for fossil fuels today.

Gross inland consumption of renewables

The gross inland consumption of renewables is closely linked to primary production of renewables and the only noticeable difference is due to imports/exports. Mainly as a consequence of net imports of liquid biofuels, the gross inland consumption of all renewables is 4% higher than primary production. The gross inland consumption of renewables decreased by 2.0% in 2011 when compared to 2010. Wood and other solid biomass continues to be the largest contributor to the mix of renewable energy sources in gross inland energy consumption. Hydro and wood accounted for 91% in 1990. However, since then their increases were much smaller than for other sources of renewables despite the fact that wood more than doubled between 1990 and 2011, and as a consequence their share decreased to 64% in 2011. Gross inland consumption of renewable energies is shown in Figure 6 (in this figure electricity production is not normalised).

Renewable energy available for final consumption

Renewable energy available for final consumption follows a very similar pattern to gross inland energy consumption from renewable sources. Rapid expansion of certain technologies caused the share of energy from solid renewables (including wood and renewable waste) to decrease from 60 % in 1990 to 43 % in 2011. However, in absolute quantities it increased by 57% during this period. Renewable energy available for final consumption decreased by 1.2% in 2011 when compared to 2010. This decrease is not only due to reduced performance of hydro plants, but also due to other decreases for some renewable source – with very high probability this is an effect of the financial and economic crisis in Europe.

Share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy

In the EU-28 the share of energy from renewable sources in gross final energy consumption increased from 8.1 % in 2004 to 13 % in 2010. The share of energy from renewable sources in gross final energy consumption in the EU-28 is showing a steady progress towards the Europe 2020 target (20 %). As some countries have not yet fully transposed and implemented all provisions of Directive 2009/28/EC, some biofuels and bioliquids cannot be counted as compliant (sustainable) in year 2011. Also some countries have not yet improved their national statistical system to fully account for all renewable energy sources (for example heat pumps). As a consequence of all these elements, the share in year 2011 is estimated to be lowered by around 0.5%. As evident from previous charts, the increased share between 2010 and 2011 is not due to increased use of renewables but rather due to decrease in use of fossil energies (oil products and natural gas). In fact, taking into account the 2020 targets of the Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU), further decrease in EU's energy consumption until 2020 should be expected.

No Member State has so far reported any arrangements for the statistical transfer of a specified amount of energy from renewable sources nor has reported any joint projects relating to the production of electricity, heating or cooling from renewable energy sources. Latest data for year 2005 shows only very small deviation with respect to values known during the preparation and adoption of Directive in years 2007-2008. The changes are due to revisions in data set submitted by Member States in the annual energy questionnaires. Average of 2011-2012 values will be compared to the indicative trajectory. For 7 countries, their values in 2011 are below the first indicative trajectory values, other countries were above the first trajectory values in year 2011.

The renewable share in Estonia in 2011 was above the 2020 target. FR, UK, MT and NL were the most distant in year 2011 from their 2020 target – roughly 10 percentage points. The highest share in the EU in year 2011 was observed in Sweden, however Swedish share decreased by 1 percentage point compared to year 2011. The lowest share in 2011 was observed in Malta, however there are still some statistical problems with the reporting of consumption of liquid biofuels.

Share of energy from renewable sources: electricity

In 2011, electricity generation from renewable sources, with normalised wind power and hydro power, contributed 21.8 % to total EU-28 electricity generation. There is a huge variation between countries in Europe: for Malta the level of this indicator is negligible (0.1%), while for Norway it is around 100%. In the EU-27 the highest share is in Austria, followed by Sweden. The share of electricity from renewable sources in gross electricity consumption is presented in Table 2.

Share of energy from renewable sources: heating and cooling

In 2011, renewable energy for heating and cooling in the EU-28 accounted for 15.1% of total energy used for heating and cooling. This is a significant increase from 9.6% in 2004. Increases in industrial sectors as well as in services and residential use (the buildings sector) contributed to this growth. Aerothermal, geothermal and hydrothermal heat energy captured by heat pumps should be taken into account and is included in this subsection of total renewable energy only to the extent reported by Member States. The share of energy from renewable sources in heating and cooling is presented in Table 3.

Share of energy from renewable sources: transport

For all countries there is a common 2020 target of 10 % for the share of renewable energy in the transport sector. Directive 2009/28/EC stipulates that only biofuels/bioliquids that fulfil sustainability criteria should be included. Statistical systems in some countries have yet to be updated to take this aspect entirely into account. While the total share increases between 2010 and 2011, the share of renewables in transport decreases between 2010 and 2011. This is due to zero quantities of compliant biofuels reported by BG, CZ, FR, HR, CY, SK, FI (these countries have reported some biofuel use, but none of it compliant in 2011) and DK, EE, MT that reported no biofuels use at all (which is more likely to be a statistical/administrative certificates problem than actual reality). Also PT reports only a very small share of biofuel compliant. For BE in 2011 due to no data submission, no biofuels are accounted as compliant.

If all biofuels are taken into account (compliant and non-compliant), the share of renewable energies in transport in 2011 will be 5.0%. The share of energy from renewable sources in transport is presented in Table 4.

Share of energy from renewable sources: OECD-EU comparison

The energy data collection is harmonised on international level in the joint OECD/IEA - European Commision/Eurostat - UNECE questionnaires. This allows to a certain extend comparison of the share of energy from renewable sources between EU Member States and OECD/IEA countries. However, as not all information is available, certain additional assumptions are made in this comparison: all biofuels and bioliquids are counted towards the renewable share and without using multipliers, heat pumps are not counted, all pumped hydro is assumed to be pure pumped hydro and mixed hydro is assumed to be zero, electricity in road transport is counted without multiplier. This allows a harmonised comparison of the EU-28 aggregate with other OECD countries; however in this comparison EU-28 values are not equivalent to the values presented earlier in this article. The comparison of the EU-28 with other OECD countries and Russia is presented in Table 5 and Figure 8.

Data sources and availability

Data from energy balances have been used for all calculations. The most recent data available are for the reference year 2011. Data are available for all EU Member States. In general, data are complete, recent and highly comparable across countries. This results in high accuracy and accountability of EU aggregate figures.

Methodology

Gross inland energy consumption represents the total quantity of energy resources used for all purposes.

Energy available for final consumption represents the total quantity of energy resources available to consumers (private, commercial and industrial). It excludes energy used in transformation processes (for example electricity power plants, fuel refineries, blast furnaces). It also includes energy products that might be eventually used for non energy purposes (for example in chemical processes).

Gross final consumption of energy is defined in Directive 2009/28/EC as the energy commodities delivered for energy purposes to industry, transport, households, services (including public services), agriculture, forestry and fisheries, including the consumption of electricity and heat by the energy branch for electricity and heat production and including losses of electricity and heat in distribution and transmission.

Energy production from non-renewable municipal wastes was deducted from the contribution of biomass to heating and electricity generation, and consumption for pipeline transport was included in gross final consumption of energy, in line with the sectoral classification of the Energy Statistics Regulation. To improve accuracy and consistency with national statistics in calculating the renewable energy shares, national calorific values for oil products were used where available for converting quantities of petroleum products into energy units, instead of the default Eurostat values.

The Commission has only recently established the complete guidelines for accounting of energy from heat pumps. Despite the lack of an approved statistical methodology at the time of data collection and for reasons of completeness, the contribution of renewable energy from heat pumps was taken into account where sufficient information was submitted by Member States. For these reasons some small differences exist between data used for this publication and those published in the energy balances.

The energy statistics and energy balances available at Eurostat (as well as at international level at OECD/IEA and UNECE) cannot distinguish between sustainable and non-sustainable renewable sources of energy. This split is possible in the accounting tool (SHARES tool^[1]) developed by Eurostat, where reporting countries have to provide additional information in this respect. Therefore it should be borne in mind that, unless explicitly stated, renewables include all renewable energy sources — those meeting sustainability criteria and those that do not comply with such criteria.

For data for the period 2004-2010: Directive 2009/28/EC did not yet exist or was only very recently adopted. In most European countries it was not transposed into national legislation. Also, the values in these years are not used for any measurement of legislative compliance with indicative trajectory as defined in part B of Annex I of the Directive. It was decided that for years from 2004 to 2010 all biofuels and bioliquids would be counted towards the numerator of the share of energy from renewable sources.

For data for year 2011 and onwards: The compliance with Article 17 (Sustainability criteria for biofuels and bioliquids) has to be judged also with respect to Article 18 (Verification of compliance with the sustainability criteria for biofuels and bioliquids). As of reference year 2011, countries shall report as compliant only those biofuels and bioliquids for which compliance with Articles 17 as well as Article 18 can be fully demonstrated. Only reported compliant biofuels and bioliquids are counted towards the respective shares of renewables.

As stipulated in Directive 2009/28/EC, gross final consumption of electricity from renewable sources is the electricity produced from renewable energy sources, excluding hydro electricity produced from pumped storage plants for water previously pumped uphill. The Directive also requires electricity production from hydro and wind energy to be normalised. Given the 15-year normalisation requirement for hydro production and the availability of energy statistics (for the EU-27, starting from 1990), long time series of this indicator are not available.

For the purpose of calculating the share of renewable energy in heating and cooling, final consumption of energy from renewable sources is defined as the final consumption of renewable energy in industry, households, services, agriculture, forestry and fisheries for heating and cooling purposes, plus district heating produced from renewables. The total final consumption for heating and cooling is the final consumption of all energy commodities, except electricity, for purposes other than transport, plus the consumption of heat for own use at electricity and heat plants and the heat losses in networks.

Context

Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources established a European framework for the promotion of renewable energy, setting mandatory national renewable energy targets for achieving a 20% share of renewable energy in the final energy consumption and a 10% share of energy from renewable sources in transport by 2020. These goals are headline targets of the European 2020 strategy for growth, since they contribute to Europe's industrial innovation and technological leadership as well as reducing emissions, improving the security of our energy supply and reducing our energy import dependence.

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Notes

↑ http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/energy/documents/SHARES_2010.zip

[1] ttp://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/energy/documents/SHARES_2010.zip

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