THE FUTURE OF NEW ENERGY IN THE EU

Huge renewable energy growth this decade, if EU countries meet projections
November 28, 2011 (European Enviroment Agency)

"Offshore wind energy capacity in Europe is projected to increase 17-fold between 2010 and 2020, while newer renewable technologies such as concentrated solar power and wave/tidal power will also increase more than 11-fold…European countries are also expected to significantly boost solar photovoltaic power, onshore wind and other renewable technologies over the next decade.

"…The latest update [from the European Environment Agency (EEA)] shows the diversity of approaches to meeting the EU’s collective target of 20 % of energy from renewable sources by 2020…11.7 % of energy used in the EU came from renewable sources in 2009…Offshore wind is projected to grow the most rapidly, with installed capacity multiplying 17 times over ten years…Onshore wind and biomass electricity installed capacity to double, with solar photovoltaic capacity to triple over the same period…"

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"…A greater part of Europe’s electricity will come from the sea, as wave and tidal energy are projected to increase 11-fold…The electricity-generating capacity of concentrated solar power will increase 11-fold…Heat pump output will triple while geothermal heat and solar thermal output will approximately quadruple…Despite these growth rates, the 2020 targets will be met by just a narrow margin…

"Approximately 43 % of all renewable energy production is planned for heating and cooling, with biomass accounting for 80 % renewable heating and cooling output…Transport will make up the smallest proportion of renewable energy consumption (12 %), but is expected to be the fastest growing element between 2005 and 2020…"