This will allow Europe to keep its leadership role in the fight against climate change, in the clean energy transition and in meeting the goals set by the Paris Agreement. Renewable Energy is an international, multi-disciplinary journal in renewable energy engineering and research. From 2001 to 2017, cumulative wind capacity around the world increased to more than 539,000 megawatts from 23,900 mw—more than 22 fold. At least 29 U.S. states have set renewable portfolio standards—policies that mandate a certain percentage of energy from renewable sources, More than 100 cities worldwide now boast at least 70 percent renewable energy, and still others are making commitments to reach 100 percent. At the origin of these initiatives is the 2020 climate and energy package adopted in December 2008, which provided a further stimulus for increasing the use of renewable energy sources to 20 % of total energy consumption by 2020, while calling for energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions to both be cut by 20 %. Corporations are making a difference too, purchasing record amounts of renewable power in 2018. Changes are due to revisions in data sets transmitted by reporting countries in response to annual energy questionnaires. The first U.S. offshore wind farm opened in 2016 in Rhode Island, and other offshore projects are gaining momentum. Share of renewable energy more than … October 4, 2017. In any discussion about climate change, renewable energy usually tops the list of changes the world can implement to stave off the worst effects of rising temperatures. Renewable energy sources include wind power, solar power (thermal, photovoltaic and concentrated), hydro power, tidal power, geothermal energy, ambient heat captured by heat pumps, biofuels and the renewable part of waste . That's because renewable energy sources such as solar and wind don't emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Germany has been called "the world's first major renewable energy economy". One of the key targets proposed is for the share of renewable energy to reach at least 27 % by 2030. For more detailed definition, please see SHARES tool manual. But "renewable" doesn't necessarily mean sustainable, as opponents of corn-based ethanol or large hydropower dams often argue. Although renewable facilities require upfront investments to build, they can then operate at very low cost (for most clean energy technologies, the “fuel” is free). Unlike solar and wind energy, geothermal energy is always available, but it has side effects that need to be managed, such as the rotten egg smell that can accompany released hydrogen sulfide. renewable energy facts, ... popular sentiment toward developing home-grown renewable energy sources. The share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption is identified as a key indicator for measuring progress under the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Energy production from non-renewable municipal wastes was deducted from the contribution of biomass to heating and electricity generation. All fossil fuels formed in a similar way. Renewable energy sources include wind power, solar power (thermal, photovoltaic and concentrated), hydro power, tidal power, geothermal energy, ambient heat captured by heat pumps, biofuels and the renewable part of waste. In this video some interesting facts regarding Renewable Energy have been revealed. A report on the sustainability of solid and gaseous biofuels used for electricity, heating and cooling (SWD(2014) 259) was adopted in July 2014. The most common renewable sources are water and biomass. #1: Renewable energy is a form of clean energy that is provided by natural sources present in nature. For the past 150 years or so, humans have relied heavily on coal, oil, and other fossil fuels to power everything from light bulbs to cars to factories. Above all, the European Green Deal sets a path for a transition that is just and socially fair. Data for 2011 onwards: Compliance with Article 17 (Sustainability criteria for biofuels and bioliquids) has to be assessed with respect to Article 18 (Verification of compliance with the sustainability criteria for biofuels and bioliquids). It also doesn't encompass other low- or zero-emissions resources that have their own advocates, including energy efficiency and nuclear power. world's biggest source of renewable energy, disrupt river ecosystems and surrounding communities, object to how wind turbines look on the horizon, other offshore projects are gaining momentum, energy capacity from photovoltaic panels increased a whopping 4,300 percent, geothermal energy is derived from the Earth’s internal heat. Renewable energy is providing affordable electricity across the country right now, and can help stabilize energy prices in the future. The Hidden Costs of Turning Food Into Fuel. Directive 2009/28/EC will be used until reference year 2020. The use of renewable energy has many potential benefits, including a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the diversification of energy supplies and a reduced dependency on fossil fuel markets (in particular, oil and gas). But Croatia is not the only case. With more than half of energy from renewable sources in its gross final consumption of energy, Sweden (56.4 %) had by far the highest share among the EU Member States in 2019, ahead of Finland (43.1 %), Latvia (41.0 %), Denmark (37.2 %) and Austria (33.6 %). See all of our videos about renewable energy here. Fossil fuels are embedded in nearly everything we do, and as a result, the greenhouse gases released from the burning of those fuels have reached historically high levels. Facts and Figures Renewable energy resources alone are not sufficient to meet the predicted dramatic increase in energy demands through 2030. Full article. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- Drought can also cause problems. Developments in the industrial sector, services and households contributed to this growth. The Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC stipulates that only biofuels and bioliquids that fulfil sustainability criteria should be counted for the targets. In 2019, renewable energy represented 19.7 % of energy consumed in the EU-27, only 0.3 % short of the 2020 target of 20 %. While most wind power comes from onshore turbines, offshore projects are appearing too, with the most in the U.K. and Germany. Similarly, debates have erupted over whether it's a good idea to ship wood pellets from U.S. forests over to Europe so that it can be burned for electricity. Close. The Green Deal is an integral part of the Commission’s strategy to implement the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda and the sustainable development goals, and the other priorities announced in President von der Leyen’s political guidelines. Aside from combating climate change through a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the use of renewable energy sources is likely to result in more secure energy supplies, greater diversity in energy supply, less air pollution, as well as the possibility for job creation in environmental and renewable energy sectors. Solar: From home rooftops to utility-scale farms, solar power is reshaping energy markets around the world. In the western U.S., carbon dioxide emissions over a 15-year period were 100 megatons higher than they normally would have been, according to a 2018 study, as utilities turned to coal and gas to replace hydropower lost to drought. Critics of corn-based ethanol, for example, say it competes with the food market for corn and supports the same harmful agricultural practices that have led to toxic algae blooms and other environmental hazards. The statistics presented in this article are based on data compiled in accordance with accounting rules set down in the Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and calculated on the basis of energy statistics covered by Regulation (EC) No 1099/2008 on energy statistics, most recently amended in November 2019 by Regulation (EU) No 2019/2146. You are here. As part of the Green Deal, the Commission will refocus the European Semester process of macroeconomic coordination to integrate the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, to put sustainability and the well-being of citizens at the centre of economic policy, and the sustainable development goals at the heart of the EU’s policymaking and action. Gross final consumption of energy is defined in the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC as the energy commodities delivered for energy purposes to industry, transport, households, services (including public services), agriculture, forestry and fisheries, including the consumption of electricity and heat by the energy branch for electricity and heat production and including losses of electricity and heat in distribution and transmission. There are various forms of renewable energy, deriving directly or indirectly from the sun, or from heat generated deep within the earth. The latest data for 2005 shows a small variation with respect to data available during the preparation and adoption of the Directive in 2007-2008. Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources set an overall goal across the EU for a 20 % share of energy consumption to be derived from renewable sources by 2020, while renewables should also account for a 10 % share of the fuel used in the transport sector by the same date. Figure 1 shows the latest data available for the share of renewable energies in gross final energy consumption and the targets that have been set for 2020. This positive development has been prompted by the legally binding targets for increasing the share of energy from renewable sources enacted by Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources. This will greatly contribute to the Commission's political priority as expressed by President Juncker in 2014 for the European Union to become the world number one in renewables. Renewables, including solar, wind, hydro, biofuels and others, are at the centre of the transition to a less carbon-intensive and more sustainable energy system. The values in these years are not used for any measurement of legislative compliance with the indicative trajectory defined in part B of Annex I of the Directive. An important aspect to take into account when interpreting data is statistical revisions. Table 1 presents data for all reporting countries and also the values of the indicative trajectory. Large dams can disrupt river ecosystems and surrounding communities, harming wildlife and displacing residents. Prepare yourself for our top 10 must-know renewable energy facts... 1. Energy sources are either renewable, meaning they can easily be replenished, or nonrenewable, meaning they draw on finite resources.Learn about renewable energy resources and how we can use nonrenewable energy sources more efficiently. While the share of renewable energy as a whole is increasing since 2004, between 2010 and 2011 its share in transport decreased. This page was last modified on 19 January 2021, at 10:36. While hydropower is theoretically a clean energy source replenished by rain and snow, it also has several drawbacks. The Public Renewable Energy Finance Flows shown in these tables present an overview of investment transactions for renewable energies from selected public financial institutions. Swedes use 54.5% renewable energy. The total final consumption for heating and cooling is the final consumption of all energy commodities, except electricity, for purposes other than transport, plus the consumption of heat for own use at electricity and heat plants and heat losses in networks. This page has been accessed 430,776 times. Examples of renewable sources are: biomass (wood, wood waste, municipal solid waste, landfill gas, ethanol and biodiesel), water (hydropower), wind and solar. Hydropower: For centuries, people have harnessed the energy of river currents, using dams to control water flow. Renewable energy is an increasingly important part of California’s clean energy future. They are made by burning fossil fuels to create energy. In January 2014, the European Commission put forward a set of energy and climate goals for 2030 with the aim of encouraging private investment in infrastructure and low-carbon technologies. Aerothermal, geothermal and hydrothermal heat energy captured by heat pumps for heating purposes is taken into account. To improve accuracy and consistency with national statistics in calculating renewable energy shares, national calorific values were used, where available, for converting quantities of all energy products into energy units, instead of the default calorific values. List item. Other policies that could encourage renewable energy growth include carbon pricing, fuel economy standards, and building efficiency standards. While the EU as a whole is on course to meet its 2020 targets, some Member States will need to make additional efforts to meet their obligations as regards the two main targets: the overall share of energy from renewable sources in the gross final energy consumption (see Figure 1) and the specific share of energy from renewable sources in transport (which is dealt with further on in this article, see Figure 4 and Table 4). 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