Brussels, 07/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - From 7.9% in 2004 to 9.6% in 2008 and 13.1% in 2011, the proportion of green energies in the EU's primary energy mix is progressing towards attaining the 20% target in 2020.
According to initial estimates for 2012 and published by the EurObserv'ER consortium, renewable energies (solar, wind, hydraulic, geothermal and biomass) in the EU's final energy consumption reached 14.4% in 2012 compared to the 2011 figure of 13.1%, which means that it increased by 1.3 points.
On an individual member state level in 2012, the results were as follows: 12.4% in Germany (as opposed to 11.8% in 2011, with its 2020 target of 18%); 32.2% in Austria (30.7% in 2011, 2020 target of 34%); 5.3% in Belgium (4.2% in 2011, 2020 target of 13%); 17.7% in Bulgaria (13.4% in 2011, 2020 target of 16%); 7% in Cyprus (5.4% in 2011, 2020 target of 13%); 11.3% in the Czech Republic (9.4% in 2011, 2020 target of 13%); 24.2% in Denmark (23.5% in 2011, 2020 target of 30%); 27.8% in Estonia (25.9% in 2011, 2020 target of 25%); 36.4% in Finland (32.9% in 2011, 2020 target of 38%); 13.7% in France (11.5% in 2011, 2020 target of 23%); 12.5% in Greece (10.9% in 2011, 2020 target of 18%); 9,8% in Hungary (9.1% in 2011, 2020 target of 13%); 7.5% in Ireland (6.6% in 2011, 2020 target of 16%); 13.8% in Italy (12.3% in 2011, 2020 target of 17%); 33% in Latvia (32.7% in 2011, 2020 target of 40%); 20.8% in Lithuania (20.3% in 2011, 2020 target of 23%); 3.1% in Luxembourg (2.9% in 2011, 2020 target of 11%); 0.3% in Malta (0.2% in 2011, 2020 target of 10%); 4.5% in the Netherlands (4.4% in 2011, 2020 target of 14%); 12.4% in Poland (10.9% in 2011, 2020 target of 15%); 24.7% in Portugal (25% in 2011, 2020 target of 31%); 22.1% in Romania (21.5% in 2011, 2020 target of 24%); 10.6% in Slovakia (9.9% in 2011, 2020 target of 14%); 20.2% in Slovenia (19.4% in 2011, 2020 target of 25%); 16.7% in Spain (15.1% in 2011, 2020 target of 20%); 52.4% in Sweden (49.4% in 2011, 2020 target of 49%); and 4.1% in the United Kingdom (3.8% in 2011, 2020 target of 15%).
The EurObserv'ER says that this significant rise between 2011 in 2012 was mainly because of two administrative reasons: the taking into account of estimates, for the first time, of the sustainability of biofuel consumption (certified biofuels), and the opportunity for member states to include part of the heat produced from air-air heat pumps for cooling, which helped increase production from this source, particularly in Italy. The third factor is down to climate. In 2011, an exceptionally mild winter reduced wood consumption used for heating across the EU and normal conditions in 2012 saw wood consumption climb significantly again. EurObserv'ER also highlights the increased electric and thermal production capacity in the wind turbine, photovoltaic, biogas and solid biomass sectors. (EH/transl.fl)