A recent report published by the European Commission shows that while the EU as a whole is currently on track to meet targets for renewable energy generation, there UK is lagging behind.
The report explains that, with 16% of the EU’s final energy consumption being generated from renewable sources in 2014, and 16.4% in 2015, the bloc as a whole is “well on track to reach its 20% target by 2020”. The next target, as part for the ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ package, is for the member states to “collectively reach the target of at least 27% renewable energy by 2030”. According to the report, this “will be made possible through coordinated action in renewables, energy efficiency, and market design, and ensured through a strong governance process”.
The past few years have seen vastly increased deployment of renewable generators across the continent, driven partly by plummeting costs for solar PV modules (which saw an 80% decrease in price between 2009 and 2015). Thanks in part to this, the portion of the EU’s electricity generated by renewable sources increased from 21.7% to 27.5% in the three years following 2011 and “it is expected to climb to 50% by 2030”.
The report explained: “The European Union has also managed to significantly reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of its economy. It is presently one of the most greenhouse gas efficient major economies, and is set to become the most greenhouse gas efficient economy in the G20 through the implementation of the 2030 climate and energy targets.”
But, it also made it clear that “there is no time for complacency if Europe wants to remain a global leader”.
While the EU as a whole has been making good progress, and progress that looks to be continuing broadly speaking, the European Commission highlighted the need for all member states to “keep up their efforts in order to reach their national goals”.
It is here where the UK appears to be falling short of the mark somewhat, not least as one of the only three EU member states to have increased its reliance on imported energy over the past decade.
A report published by the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee last September expressed concern about the UK’s ability to meet renewable targets.
“The UK will miss its 2020 renewable energy targets without major policy improvements,” it said.
“Failing to meet these would damage the UK’s reputation for climate change leadership.”
