Brussels, 30/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - From 7.9% in 2004, 9.6% in 2008 and 12.1% in 2010, renewable energy sources in the EU's gross final energy consumption continues its progress towards the 20% target for 2020.
Almost all member states increased the percentage of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption between 2010 and 2011. The highest shares of renewable energy in final energy consumption were in Sweden (46.8% of renewable energy sources in total consumption), Latvia (33.1%), Finland (31.8%) and Austria (30.9%). Estonia was the first member state to exceed its EUROPE 2020 target with 25.9% as opposed to 25%.
Renewable sources used in national energy mixes in 2011 were as follows: Germany (12.3% in pursuit of a 2020 target of 18%), Austria (30.9%, 34%), Belgium (4.1%, 13%), Bulgaria (13.8%, 16%), Cyprus (5.4%, 13%), Denmark (23.1%, 30%), Estonia (25.9%, 25%), Spain (15.1%, 20%), Finland (31.8%, 38%), France (11.5%, 23%), Greece (11.6%, 18%), Ireland (6.7%, 16%), Italy (11.5%, 17%), Latvia (33.1%, 40%), Lithuania (20.3%, 23%), Luxembourg (2.9%, 11%), Hungary (8.1%, 13%), Malta (0.4%, 10%), Netherlands (4.3%, 14%), Poland (10.4%, 15%), Portugal (24.9%, 31%), Czech Republic (9.4%, 13%), Romania (21.4%, 24%), United Kingdom (3.8%, 15%), Slovenia (18.8%, 25%), Slovakia (9.7%, 14%), Sweden (46.8%, 49%). Norway's consumption of renewables reached 64.7% in 2011 in comparison to its 2020 target of 67.5%, Croatia reached 15.7% compared to its 2020 target of 20%. (EH/transl.fl)