The European Union toward a green economy: Current situation and perspective in the use of renewables for electricity generation
Abstract
The European Union (EU) is making significant progress in its energy transition strategy, positioning itself as a global leader. The use of renewable energy sources for electricity generation is increasing yearly. In 2012, the share of renewable electricity in gross electricity consumption in the EU was 24.1%. This figure rose to 38% in 2020, overtaking fossil-fired generation for the first time, which fell to 37%. In 2021, the EU produced 4032.5 TWh using all energy sources. Renewable energies generated 1670.4 TWh or 41.4% of the total. Conventional and nuclear energy sources produced the remaining 58.6%. In the coming years, conventional energy sources are expected to generate less electricity than renewable and nuclear energy sources. In the coming years, solar and wind energy will remain the two main renewable energy sources for electricity generation in the EU. The EU’s energy transition is a concern and a key apprehension for the European Commission (EC), which strives to ensure sustainable, secure, and reasonable energy prices in the coming years. In February 2015, the EC set out its energy strategy, focusing on five key areas: Energy security, solidarity, and trust; a fully integrated European energy market; Energy efficiency contributing to moderation of demand; decarbonizing the economy; research, innovation, and competitiveness.
References
1. Hafner M, Tagliapietra S. The Geopolitics of the Global Energy Transition. Springer International Publishing; 2020. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-39066-2
2. Energy Union, European Council, Council of the European Union. Available online: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/energy-union/ (accessed on 2 June 2023).
3. European Commission.EC-Energy. Strategy for an EU external energy engagement. Available online: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/international-cooperation/eu-external-energy-engagements_en (accessed on 4 June 2023).
4. IMEDIA. For a competitive, secure and low-carbon economy (Spanish). Available online: https://imediapr.es/objetivos-para-2030-en-materia-de-clima-y-energia-en-la-ue (accessed on 6 June 2023).
5. Eurostat. Energy statistics—an overview. Available online: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Energy_statistics_-_an_overview (accessed on 12 June 2023).
6. Hafner M, Luciani G. The Palgrave Handbook of International Energy Economics. Springer International Publishing; 2022.
7. Eurostat. Shedding light on energy in the EU—2023 edition. Available online: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/interactive-publications/energy-2023#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20the%20energy%20mix%20in%20the%20EU%2C,nuclear%20energy%20%2813%25%29%20and%20solid%20fossil%20fuels%20%2812%25%29 (accessed on 16 June 2023).
8. EU Energy in Figures 2022. Available online: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/data-and-analysis/eu-energy-statistical-pocketbook-and-country-datasheets_en (accessed on 18 June 2023).
9. IRENA. Renewable capacity statistics 2024. International Renewable Energy Agency; 2024.
10. EU Statistical Pocketbook 2022. Available online: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/data-and-analysis/eu-energy-statistical-pocketbook-and-country-datasheets_en (accessed on 20 June 2023).
11. EC. The European Green Deal—European Commission. Available online: https://ec.europa.eu/stories/european-green-deal/ (accessed on 21 June 2023).
12. Cabrita J, Demetriades S, Fóti K. Distributional impacts of climate policies in Europe. Available online: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/report/2021/distributionalimpacts-of-climate-policies-in-europe (accessed on 29 June 2023).
13. Möst D, Schreiber S, Herbst A, et al. The Future European Energy System. Springer International Publishing; 2021. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-60914-6
14. IRENA. Renewable energy statistics 2023. International Renewable Energy Agency; 2023.
15. Widuto A. Wind energy in the EU. Available online: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2024/757628/EPRS_BRI(2024)757628_EN.pdf (accessed on 21 June 2023).
16. Morales Pedraza J. Electrical Energy Generation in Europe. Springer; 2015.
17. European Union. European Parliament resolution of 16 February 2022, on a European strategy for offshore renewable energy (2021/2012(INI)). Available online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52022IP0032 (accessed on 23 June 2023).
18. Planas O. What is solar energy? Examples, definitions and types (Spanish). Available online: https://solar-energia.net/que-es-energia solar#:~:text=Autor%3A%20Oriol%20Planas%20-%20Ingeniero%20T%C3%A9cnico%20Industrial%20Fecha,la%20radiaci%C3%B3n%20solar%20en%20electricidad%20o%20energ%C3%ADa%20t%C3%A9rmica (accessed on 26 June 2023).
19. IAEA-PRIS databases. Available online: https://pris.iaea.org/PRIS/home.aspx (accessed on 2 June 2023).
20. Widuto A. Solar energy in the EU. Available online: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/renewable-energy/solar-energy_en (accessed on 23 June 2023).
21. FAO. Available online: https://www.fao.org/energy/bioenergy/en/ (accessed on 26 June 2023).
22. Pelkmans L, Georgiadou M. Implementation of bioenergy in the European Union-2021 update. Available online: https://www.ieabioenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CountryReport2021_EU28_final.pdf (accessed on 26 June 2023).
23. National Geographic. What is geothermal energy? Available online: https://www.nationalgeographic.es/medio-ambiente/que-es-la-energia-geotermica (accessed on 26 June 2023).
Copyright (c) 2024 Jorge Morales Pedraza
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Submit a Paper
