Europe is exceeding its renewable energy targets

Renewable energy in Europe has more than doubled since 2004, while taking up a larger percentage of the electricity mix year-on-year, according to the latest report from the EU's own stats office Eurostat.

Electricity generation through renewable sources accounted for a 37% share in 2020, up from 34% in 2019 and represented 22% of the total energy consumed in the bloc - shooting past the 2020 target of 20%, hinting the EU is surpassing its targets and is on its way to becoming net-zero by 2050.

Read more: EU unveils plans for new energy framework to decarbonise gas market

Wind and hydropower accounted for two-thirds of renewable generation in 2020 with a 36% and 33% share, respectively, followed by biofuels and solar energy with 8% and 14%.

Eurostat claims solar is currently the fastest growing method for generation on the continent. In 2008 it only accounted for 1% of the energy mix.

The share of energy from renewable sources used in transport activities in the EU reached 10.2 % in 2020.

In April 2021, EU leaders enshrined the bloc's net-zero targets into law. It has also announced the "Fit for 55" package to help slash greenhouse gas emissions.

Among the EU Member States, more than 70% of electricity consumed in 2020 was generated from renewable sources in Austria (78%) and Sweden (75%).

The generation of electricity from renewable sources was also high and accounted for more than half of the electricity consumed in Denmark (65%), Portugal (58%), Croatia and Latvia (both 53%).

On the other end of the spectrum, less than 10% of electricity generation was done through renewables in Malta (9.5%) and a little more in Hungary and Cyprus (both 12%).

In terms of raw renewable energy consumption, another data set from Eurostat shows several countries exceeding their renewable energy targets.

Norway, Iceland and Sweden all overachieved on their energy mixes by a significant margin, while the data set hints that only France did not reach its goals, being 3.9% under target.

In total, 26 countries exceeded their targets in some form, while the Netherlands and Belgium are meeting but not exceeding their energy mix targets.

However, Greece's data is only provisional and is therefore subject to change, while Poland's was underestimated due to an increased role for biomass in its energy mix.

Read more: "A reasonable step forward, 6/10" - ETC's Adair Turner talks COP26

The coronavirus pandemic saw a slump in fossil fuel demand across the world, but the end of lockdowns saw consumption levels exceed normal levels, putting a dampener on environmental hopes coming out of the crisis.

However, a number of countries have started to pledge net-zero goals in line with expectations both before and after the COP26 summit in Glasgow.

Back to Homepage

Back to Energy & Utilities