Panorama Energy statistics to support EU policies and solutions (2009 edition)
The climate challenge has emerged as the main pillar of EU policies aimed at accelerating the transition to sustainable energy. As the world’s leader on energy and climate policy, the EU faces the twin challenge of living up to its ambitions, while at the same time aiming to stimulate global markets towards a sustainable energy future. More traditional concerns such as energy security and competitiveness also remain high on the agenda.
The European Union has published the renewable energy outlook until the year 2020 under the Eurostat organization. This document discusses the development of policies over time as well as reviews key statistics in environmental as well as industry figures and data. The report gives interesting data on the downward trends in greenhouse emissions during the period and a country by country review of the renewable industry.
Download the full Eurostat document (4,169 KB)
Brussels, 17 December 2008 (From the EU Press Room)
Commission welcomes final
adoption of Europe's climate and energy package
With today's vote in the European Parliament on the climate and energy package, the EU has finalised a deal that will help Europe transform into a low-carbon economy and increase energy security. Fully in line with the Commission's proposals in January 2008, agreement has been reached on legally binding targets, by 2020, to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, to establish a 20% share for renewable energy, and to improve energy efficiency by 20%. Deals were hammered out on revisions to the missions trading system, the distribution of the reduction effort outside of the emissions trading system, a legal framework for environmentally safe carbon capture and storage (CCS) as well as on the related proposals on CO2 emissions from cars and on fuel quality. As the first region in the world to commit to such far-reaching and legally binding emission reductions, Europe is leading the fight against climate change. Today's vote is an important contribution towards an ambitious international climate agreement to be reached in Copenhagen by the end of 2009.
Commission President José Manuel Barroso said: "The EU's climate and energy package is part of the solution both to the climate crisis and to the current economic and financial crisis. It represents a green "new deal" which will enhance the competitiveness of EU industry in an increasingly carbon-constrained world. Moving to a low carbon economy will encourage innovation, provide new business opportunities and create new green jobs."
Madrid, 10 December 2008 (Opinion)
Europe needs a coordinated front on Economy and Energy.
Energy is what makes Europe tick. It is essential, then, for the European Union (EU) to address the major energy challenges facing us today, i.e. climate change, our increasing dependence on imports, the strain on energy resources and access for all users to affordable, secure energy. The EU is putting in place an ambitious energy policy – covering the full range of energy sources from fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) to nuclear energy and renewables (solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydro-electric and tidal) – in a bid to spark a new industrial revolution that will deliver a low-energy economy, whilst making the energy we do consume more secure, competitive and sustainable.
It is a shame however that the EU authorities cannot get together on a common plan to get the economy underway similar to the so called new "New Deal" proposed by the President elect Mr. Obama. How long will it take for the 27 member nations to realize that Europe is "condemmed to agree" if we want to have a competitive economy in this fast changing world? Energy is one of the key issues, I personally have seen more recessions than I can count on one hand fueled heavilly by high oil prices. Instead, we see bickering when one European energy company wants to buy a large share of another European energy company on the basis that it is strategic for the country in question. Shouldn't Europe be the priority so we can obtain large companies able to compete with the growing giants in the emerging countries? We should get the Lisbon Treaty back on track so Europe can finally have comon policies on European strategic issues.
European Wind Energy Report, March 2008 (summary)
The world is facing an energy and climate crisis.
Globally, the energy sector emits 26 billion tonnes of CO2 each year and electricity production alone accounts for 41% of emissions. The International Energy Agency expects CO2 emissions in 2030 to have increased by 55% to reach more than 40 billion tonnes of CO2. The share of emissions coming from electricity production will increase to 44% in 2030, reaching 18 billion tonnes of CO2.
Europe is going to be importing a growing share of its energy at unpredictable but most likely higher prices, from unstable regions, in ever-fiercer competition with the rest of the world and at staggering environmental cost. Spare electricity generating capacity is at a historic low. Europe has to invest in new capacity to replace ageing plants and meet future demand. In the period 2005-2030, the EU needs to install 862 GW of new electricity generating capacity. 427 GW of generating capacity will be retired in the EU and an additional 435 GW will be needed to satisfy the growing demand for power. The required capacity exceeds the total capacity operating in Europe (723 GW).
Satisfying our energy needs over the coming decades will be a big challenge. For a region that currently imports 56%2 of its energy – and is on track to reach 70% in the next 20 to 30 years – the challenge is big. Our own fossil fuel resources are running out fast, fuel prices are increasing and the environment is suffering as result of our current energy supply structure. In 2030 the EU will be importing 84% of its gas, 59% of its coal and 94% of its oil.
Every day, European companies and consumers are paying the price of external control of their energy supply. Europe’s annual gas import bill alone is already €50 billion higher today than when the oil price was $20 per barrel a few years ago.
Europe must seize the opportunity created by the large turnover in electricity generating capacity that will take place over the next two decades to secure a truly indigenous clean energy supply based on renewable sources of energy – the only resources that will be left in abundance in the near future. Combined with more ambitious energy effi ciency measures, renewable heating and biofuels, it is the only way for Europe to turn the looming energy and climate crisis into an opportunity to benefi t the welfare of our citizens.
Europe simply does not have the fossil fuel resources to emerge as a winner in the battle for the world’s remaining and diminishing fuel supplies. But it does have enormously rich renewable energy resources, and European industries and markets are world leaders at turning those resources into energy.
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