Europe is quickly moving to clean energy

Renewable energy made up nearly 90 per cent of all new electricity generation in the European Union last year as wind energy overtook coal to become the second-largest form of power capacity. The EU could have the best chance of the world’s major economic regions at going entirely green, but widely varied implementation, needs in infrastructure and political will remain challenges.

The group of 28 nations is on a pace to meet its target of 20 per cent of energy used from carbon-free sources by 2020, but vast differences remain between the best and worst performing states.

Sweden has the highest rate with more than 54 per cent of its energy coming from renewable sources, followed by Finland at just under 40 per cent and Latvia at 39 per cent. Belgium, Malta, the Netherlands and Luxembourg are ranked at the bottom with less than 10 per cent.

Yet whatever the variations in progress, the trend toward renewable energy is inevitable, says Christian Breyer, a professor of Solar Economy at Lappeenranta University of Technology in Finland.

The share of renewables in total energy generated in Europe “will reach close to 100 per cent and the difference to 100 per cent will be finally a question of definition, since gas turbines (that are used for supplemental power) will more and more be supplied with biomethane, not fossil anymore.”

Today, across Europe, countries are finding solutions adapted to their unique environments. “Sweden uses solar photovoltaics to balance lack of wind during the summer and hydro reservoirs are used to balance phases of missing wind and sun. We have obtained similar research results for Finland,” says Breyer.

In sun-rich Italy, 38.2 per cent of electric consumption is served from renewable sources, with solar power generating almost 9 per cent of the total energy used, the highest in the world. In Germany wind and solar combined now generate more energy than nuclear plants.

The European Commission says the EU as a whole remains “well on track” to meet it 2020 target with an average figure of 16.4 per cent. Miguel Arias Cañete, Climate Action and Energy Commissioner, contends “there is no alternative”.

“The facts speak for themselves,” says Cañete. “Renewable energy is now cost-competitive and

Another huge piece of the renewable puzzle is vehicles, the vast majority of which are still powered by petroleum

sometimes cheaper than fossil fuels, employs over one million people in Europe, attracts more investment than many other sectors and has reduced our fossil fuel import bill by 16 billion euros.”

And Breyer says that not only regulation, but also market forces, are already in place for transformation. “Fossil oil and gas will lead to stranded assets, hence terribly poor economics,” he says. “More and more investors have set coal on their black list for financial and risk reasons. The next is oil followed by fossil gas.”

Yet a massive hurdle remains in modernising the power gird to bring renewables online.

According to the Centre for European Reform, the continent’s energy infrastructure needs to be modernised and made more efficient.

A challenge is the weather itself. The south of France Italy, Spain and Greece have much more sun than northern Europe, so that region is turning more to wind power. Germany installed the latest wind power last year, some 44 per cent of the EU total, while France, the Netherlands, Finland, Ireland and Lithuania all set new records for themselves in newly installed wind generation.

“We will need more grids in Europe for a better balance of wind energy over larger areas,” says Breyer. “Storage facilities will be needed, mainly batteries, but also some power-to-gas for seasonal balancing. But the better the grids, the less power-to-gas storage will be needed.”

Another huge piece of the renewable puzzle is vehicles, the vast majority of which are still powered by petroleum.

“Much more is needed to get battery electric vehicles introduced as fast as possible to markets,” says Breyer. “Many, many more fast charging capabilities are needed and countries have to be in the lead because it is the same as building roads.”

“The infrastructure will drastically reduce the cost of transportation, reduce import dependency and increase wealth and jobs while decreasing negative environmental effects and strengthening the economy,” he says.

Not long ago it seemed utopian: A world of almost endless, non-polluting energy. Yet today it seems tangible, within reach. Cause for optimism in an oftentroubled world. Jon Van Housen and Mariella Radaelli are editors at

the Luminosity Italia news agency in Milan