Renewables outperform gas and coal in EU electricity generation. This is revealed by a new analysis
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himRenewables outperform gas and coal in EU electricity generation. This is revealed by a new analysis conducted by Ember and Agora Energiewende. Europe is therefore pushing on the accelerator of clean energy.
Wind, solar, together with hydroelectric and biomass last year provided 38% of electricity to the countries of Europe, against 37% produced by fossils. A very important number. Numbers in hand, 2020 was the year in which more clean electricity was produced. But not only. For the first time, electricity generated from renewables has surpassed that produced from fossil fuels.
© Man
Fossils double, coal is halved
According to the analysis, the change was driven by rapid growth in wind and solar energy production, which has almost doubled since 2015 in just 5 years. In 2020, one fifth of the EU's electricity already came from wind and solar energy systems. The highest percentages were recorded in Denmark (61%), Ireland (35%), Germany (33%) and Spain (29%).
© Man
Contrary to the growth of renewables, coal-fired power generation has halved since 2015. In 2020 alone, it fell by a fifth and these plants provided only 13% of electricity to Europe. In contrast, electricity generation from natural gas fell by only 4% last year.
© Man
An irregular development also due to the increase in the price of emission certificates. As a result, relatively climate-friendly gas-fired power plants often produced cheaper electricity than fossil-fueled ones. Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic have even reduced their lignite-based energy production for the first time for a few months.
"Europe reached a milestone at the start of a decade of global climate action," said Dave Jones, Ember's chief electrical analyst and lead author of the report. “The rapid growth of wind and solar energy has forced coal into decline. But this is just the beginning, as Europe is relying on wind and solar energy not only to ensure the phasing out of coal-fired power generation by 2030, but also to phase out gas generation, to replace nuclear power plants deactivated and to meet the growing demand from electric cars, to cover heat pumps and electrolysers “.
European electricity demand fell 4% in 2020 and hit a low in April during the first wave of Covid-19. But the growth of renewable energy has been strong despite the pandemic. A further decline in fossil fuels was held back by rising electricity demand over the year and below-average nuclear power generation.
The greater use of renewables was immediately felt in the production of Co2 linked to electricity, which dropped drastically compared to the numbers of 2015 (-29%). The carbon dioxide emission intensity of European electricity production hit a record low of 226 grams of CO2 per kilowatt hour in 2020.
In 2015, every kilowatt hour of electricity used produced approximately 317 grams of carbon dioxide. Now, that same amount of electricity creates "only" 226 grams of CO2.
"The economic recovery after the pandemic must not slow down climate protection," continues Dr. Patrick Graichen, director of Agora Energiewende. "We therefore need a strong climate policy - such as the Green Deal - to ensure constant progress."
To read the full report, click here
Sources of reference: Agora Energiewende
READ also:
- Producing hydrogen and oxygen from water with the sun: a new method promises to change renewables
- Green hydrogen from renewable sources could become the cheapest fuel within 10 years
- Renewable energies surpass fossils for the first time in Europe (also thanks to the coronavirus)
