As the European Union (EU) struggles with the dual challenges of energy security concerns and high energy prices in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, domestic energy production and efficiency gains are becoming increasingly important. The REPowerEU plan of May 2022 calls for an accelerated roll-out of renewables in order to phase out the EU’s dependence on energy imports from Russia (especially gas). Boosting renewables could also help to mitigate the impact of rising energy prices and enable the EU to meet its climate targets for 2030 and 2050, as laid out in the European Green Deal.
EU domestic energy production is becoming increasingly important, not least in the context of problems with imported energy supplies exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In 2020, renewables accounted for more than one third (40.8 %) of EU total primary energy production, exceeding all other sources.
Solar energy accounted for 7 % of all renewable sources. Between 2010 and 2020, EU primary energy production from renewables grew (with the exception of 2011), while production from fossil fuels and nuclear declined. However, it is important to put these numbers in perspective. Over half of EU energy needs are covered by imports (57.5 % in 2020), and thus the EU’s net energy imports are greater than its energy production, making the share of renewables relatively smaller.
🔎 Learn more about Solar energy in the EU on our blog https://epthinktank.eu/2022/08/31/solar-energy-in-the-eu/
📲 Or find publications on our EPRS app:
• iOS: http://epyoutube.eu/q57W
• Android: http://epyoutube.eu/q57X
#REPowerEU #renewableenergy #energy