Share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption

Assessment versions

Published (reviewed and quality assured)

• No published assessments

Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

Scientific references

• EEA (2009) - EEA Scientific Committee, Suspend 10 percent biofuels target, says EEA's scientific advisory body
• EU (2009a) Climate action and renewable energy package (CARE Package)
• EU(2011) Recent progress in developing renewable energy sources and technical evaluation of the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels in transport in accordance with Article 3 of Directive 2001/77/EC and Article 4(2) of Directive 2003/30/EC (SEC2011)
• EU(2010) Summary of the Member States Forecast Documents Article 4 of Directive 2009/28/EC on Renewable Energy requires Member States to submit national renewable energy Action Plans by 30 June 2010. These plans, to be prepared in accordance with the template published by the European Commission (EC), provide detailed roadmaps of how each Member State expects to reach its legally binding 2020 target for the share of renewable energy in their final energy consumption.
• EU project RE-SHAPING (“Shaping an effective and efficient European renewable energy market”) EU project  RE-SHAPING (“Shaping an effective and efficient European renewable energy market”) to assist Member State governments in preparing for the implementation of the RES Directive and to shape a European policy for RES in the medium to long term
• Newly created RationaleReference EEA (2013) - Trends and Projections in Europe 2013 - Tracking progress towards Europe's climate and energy targets until 2020
• Newly created RationaleReference

Indicator definition

Gross Final Renewable Energy Consumption is the amount of renewable energy consumed for electricity, heating and cooling, and transport in the Member States with actual and normalised hydro and wind power generation[1] and expressed as a share against gross final energy consumption.

The indicator is developed for measuring the contribution to the 2020 and 2030 objectives on renewable energy for the EU.

•  The Renewable Energy Directive (RED)[2] commits the Union to reaching a 20% share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption[3] by 2020 and a 10% share of renewable energy consumed in transport by the same year. It sets binding national targets for renewable energy consumption by 2020 and it prescribes for each country minimum indicative trajectories in the run-up to 2020 to ensure that national 2020 targets will be met. In addition, the Directive requires Member States to adopt and publish National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs) that outline the expected trajectories for the national share of RES for the years starting with 2010 and until 2020. Countries have submitted their NREAPs in 2010. They have the obligation to report biennially on national progress towards indicative RED and expected NREAP targets.
   
• Europe 2020– the European Union’s ten-year growth strategy reaffirms the importance of the renewable energy sector for Europe. The 20 % renewable energy share in gross final consumption is one of the three headline targets for climate and sustainable energy under the strategy. The other EU-wide targets are achieving a 20 % reduction of the EU’s GHG emissions compared to 1990 and achieving a 20 % saving of the EU’s primary energy consumption compared to projections, both by 2020. Together, these represent the Union’s triple 20/20/20 objectives for climate and energy in the run-up to 2020.
  They are implemented through the EU’s 2009 climate and energy package and the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).
   
• For 2030, EU leaders endorsed the following three EU-wide targets:

(i)            achieving a binding minimum 40 % domestic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990;

(ii)           achieving a binding minimum 27 % share of renewable energy consumption; and

(iii)          achieving an indicative minimum 27 % improvement in energy efficiency. 

Units

Gross final energy consumption, Distribution losses, Renewable electricity consumption, Renewables consumed in Heating and Cooling, Renewables consumed in transport: measured in 1000 tonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe).

Policy context and targets

Context description

Environmental context

The share of RES consumption provides a broad indication of progress towards reducing the impact of energy consumption on the environment as energy from renewable sources has generally a lower life-cycle environmental impact per unit of energy produced than energy sourced from fossil fuels. Increasing the share of renewables in energy consumption will help the EU to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from power generation but the overall impact will depend on the interactions between RES support frameworks and other policy frameworks, especially the European Emissions Trading Scheme Directive (2009/29/EC) that establishes a scheme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost efficient way.

• For example, it may be assumed that the development of RES results in avoided GHG emissions and, to some extent, reduces primary energy production (because certain renewables are assumed to have 100 % transformation efficiency, which improves statistically the overall conversion efficiency of the system). This helps meet not only the GHG target, but also the energy efficiency target. The RED may also compensate, to a certain extent, the impact of low EUA prices in the EU ETS by requiring Member States to increase their share of RES via the introduction of RES-E support schemes at national level. In some cases, the introduction of feed-in tariffs in particular has helped support the innovation of less mature technologies. In certain cases however, the overlap of policy instruments might also have less positive effects. For instance, although the ETS cap was set in a way that accounted for the expected GHG reduction effects induced by the binding RES targets until 2020, the overlap between establishing emission caps under the ETS and setting RES targets introduces an element of uncertainty. Achieving a higher RES share in gross final energy consumption than the indicative RED target for a given period may result in additional gross avoided emissions[1] which, for the most part, take place in the EU ETS where they may free up more ETS allowances than initially anticipated[2] and further affected the carbon price signal in the EU ETS.

Emissions of air pollutants are also generally lower for renewable electricity production than for electricity produced from fossil fuels. The exception to this is the incineration of Municipal and Solid Waste (which, due to high costs of separation, usually involves the combustion of some mixed wastes including materials contaminated with heavy metals) and the combustion of biomass feedstock in inefficient appliances (such as for instance certain household boilers). Emissions to the atmosphere from the incineration of municipal solid waste are subject to stringent regulations including tight controls on emissions of cadmium, mercury, and other such substances.

Like with all energy resources, the exploitation of renewable energy sources may also have negative impacts on landscapes, habitats and ecosystems, though many impacts can be minimised through careful site selection. Some types of biomass and biofuel crops have considerable land, water and agricultural input requirements such as fertilisers and pesticides. Hydropower schemes can have adverse impacts including flooding, disruption of ecosystems and hydrology, and socio-economic impacts if resettlement is required (for large hydro). Some solar photovoltaic schemes require relatively large quantities of heavy metals in their construction and geothermal energy can release pollutant gases carried by hot fluids if not properly controlled. Wind turbines can have visual and noise impacts in the areas in which they are sited. On the other hand offshore wind farms can have a positive impact on the marine environment. They can provide regeneration areas for fish and benthic populations. This can be explained not only because of reduced trawling activities but also because offshore wind farms foundations function as an artificial reef encouraging the creation of new habitats[3].

Policy context

• EU Council Conclusion SN79/14 on 2030 Climate and Energy Framework
• A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030 (COM(2014) 015 final)
• A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050 (COM(2011) 112 final)
  Presents a roadmap for action in line with a 80-95% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2050

• Energy 2020 – A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy (COM(2010) 639 final)
  Highlights how EU infrastructure and innovation policies are supporting the renewable energy sector's development.

• A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030, COM(2014) 15 final
• Directive 2009/28/EC of the European parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources

• Community guidelines on state aid for environmental protection, (2008/C 82/01)
• Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy 2014-2020, (C2014) 232
• Directive on Waste; Directive 2006/12/EC
  Requires all EU Member States to take the necessary measures to ensure that waste is treated and disposed of correctly, sets targets for re-use and recycling, and requires Member States to draw up binding national programmes for waste prevention
• Second Strategic Energy Review; COM(2008) 781 final
  Strategic review on short, medium and long term targets on EU energy security.
• The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan; COM(2007) 723
  Focuses on bringing new renewable energy technologies to market competitiveness.
• For the transport sector (see CSI 037)

 References

COM(2014) 015 final: A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030.

COM(2012) 0271 final: Renewable Energy : a major player in the European energy market.

COM(2011) 112 final: A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050.

COM(2010) 639 final: Energy 2020 – A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy.

COM(2007) 723 - European Strategic Energy Technology Plan.

COM(2008) 19 - Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources.

COM(2008) 781 final - Second Strategic Energy Review.

Directive 2001/77/EC – Directive 2001/77/EC on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market.

Directive 2003/30/EC - Directive 2003/30/EC on the promotion of the use biofuels or other renewable fuels for transport.

Directive 2006/12/EC - Directive 2006/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on waste.

Directive 2009/28/EC  - Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC.

ECN (2011) Renewable Energy Projections as Published in the National Renewable Energy Action Plans of the European Member States Covering all 27 EU Member States, available at: https://www.ecn.nl/docs/library/report/2010/e10069.pdf.

EEA (2009) - EEA Scientific Committee, Suspend 10 percent biofuels target, says EEA's scientific advisory body. http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/suspend-10-percent-biofuels-target-says-eeas-scientific-advisory-body.

EU (2009) Climate action and renewable energy package (CARE Package) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/climate_action.htm.

EU(2013) Renewable energy progress report, COM(2013) 175 final, available at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52013DC0175&from=EN.

EU(2010) Summary of the Member States Forecast Documents, available at http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/action_plan_en.htm.

EU project  RE-SHAPING (“Shaping an effective and efficient European renewable energy market”) to assist Member State governments in preparing for the implementation of the RES Directive and to shape a European policy for RES in the medium to long term (website http://www.reshaping-res-policy.eu/).

Targets

Policy targets for 2020

The Renewable Energy Directive commits the Union to reaching a 20% share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption by 2020 and a 10% share of renewable energy consumed in transport by the same year. It sets binding national targets for renewable energy consumption by 2020 and it requires Member States to adopt and publish National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs)[1] that outline how countries expect to reach their legally binding 2020 renewable energy target. The Directive also provides options for cooperation to help countries achieve their targets cost effectively, and it puts forward a set of sustainability criteria for biofuels.

If all national commitments adopted by countries in the NREAPs of 2010 are fulfilled, then the EU should slightly overachieve its 2020 Renewable Energy Directive target. According to the national NREAP commitments, the share of RES consumption at EU level should increase faster from 2012 to 2018 compared to the indicative Renewable Energy Directive trajectory for this period.

An analysis[2] of the 28 EU Member State action plans shows that renewable energy output is projected to grow by 6% per year on average. Wind power, solar electricity and biofuels are foreseen to contribute with the highest growth rates. If all Member States follow the trajectory outlined in their plans, the EU will exceed its 20% renewable energy target by 0.6 percentage points.

In 2012, Sweden, Estonia and Bulgaria within the EU, as well as Iceland among EEA member countries, have already met their renewable energy target for 2020. Seven other EU Member States and Norway are already very close to reaching their 2020 targets in 2012: Romania (95%), Lithuania and Austria (94%), Latvia and Finland (90%), Denmark (87%) and the Czech Republic (86%) (see Figure 3).

Further growth to achieve the 20% target will depend on further fine-tuning of existing policy frameworks, improved market conditions for grid access of renewable sources, fully implementing a guarantee of origin system to allow further development of renewable consumer market. In addition, better, more integrated planning will be required to ensure not only high efficiency of investment and accelerated pace of development but also that the penetration of these sources takes place in a manner that would minimize the environmental impact within and outside the European Union.

Use of flexible mechanisms as provided by the Renewable Directive

Flexible and cooperative measures to help countries achieve their renewable energy targets in a cost-effective manner and without undermining market stability are foreseen in the Renewable Energy Directive[1]: statistical transfer, joint projects and join support schemes. Additionally Member States can also import renewable electricity from third countries outside EU (“joint projects between Member States and third countries”).

Member States may agree on the statistical transfer of a specified amount of renewable energy between themselves. Renewable energy is thus virtually transferred to the statistics of another Member State, counting towards the national renewable energy source (RES) target of the latter Member State.

Joint projects are RES electricity or heating/cooling projects between two or several Member States; one Member State  may provide financial support for a RES project in another country and count (part of) the project’s energy production towards its own target. They can also cooperate on any type of joint project relating to the production of renewable energy, involving private operators if they like.

In the case of joint support schemes, two or more Member States may decide, on a voluntary basis, to join or partly coordinate their national support schemes in order to help achieve their targets. In such cases, a certain amount of energy from renewable sources produced in the territory of one participating Member State may count towards the national overall target of another participating Member State.

According to the Member States forecasts in their NREAPs, ten countries project to have a surplus in 2020 compared to their binding target. This surplus could be available to transfer to another Member State that falls short of its target, through the use of the Directive's cooperation mechanisms.

Related policy documents

• 2008/c 82/01
  Community guidelines on state aid for environmental protection (2008/c 82/01)
• 2009/31/EC
  Directive 2009/31/ec of the European parliament and of the Council on the geological storage of carbon dioxide.
• Climate action and renewable energy package (CARE Package)
  Combating climate change is a top priority for the EU. Europe is working hard to cut its greenhouse gas emissions substantially while encouraging other nations and regions to do likewise.
• COM(2007) 723
  Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-plan); COM(2007) 723
• COM(2008) 19
  European Commission, Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, Brussels, 2008
• COM(2008) 781
  COM(2008) 781 final - Second Strategic Energy Review
• COM(2010) 639 final: Energy 2020 – A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy
  A strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure energy
• COM(2011) 112 - A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050
  With its "Roadmap for moving to a competitive low-carbon economy in 2050" the European Commission is looking beyond these 2020 objectives and setting out a plan to meet the long-term target of reducing domestic emissions by 80 to 95% by mid-century as agreed by European Heads of State and governments. It shows how the sectors responsible for Europe's emissions - power generation, industry, transport, buildings and construction, as well as agriculture - can make the transition to a low-carbon economy over the coming decades.
• COM(2012) 271 final
  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: “Renewable Energy : a major player in the European energy market”
• DIRECTIVE 2001/77/EC Renewable electricity
  Directive 2001/77/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market
• Directive 2003/30/EC, use of biofuels and renewable fuels
  Promotion of the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport. Directive 2003/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2003 on the promotion of the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport.
• Directive 2006/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on waste
  Directive on  Waste
• DIRECTIVE 2008/101/EC
  DIRECTIVE 2008/101/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 19 November 2008 amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community
• DIRECTIVE 2009/28/EC
  DIRECTIVE 2009/28/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC
• Directive 2009/29/EC
  Directive 2009/29/EC of the European parliament and of the Council amending directive 2003/87/EC so as to improve and extend the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme of the community.
• EU Council Conclusion SN79/14 on 2030 Climate and Energy Framework
  EU Council conclusions of 23 October 2014 on 2030 Climate and Energy Framework
• REGULATION (EC) No 443/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 443/2009
  Regulation (ec) no 443/2009 of the European parliament and of the Council setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars as part of the community's integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles.

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

Technical information

1. This indicator contains both primary from Eurostat (database, http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ and SHARES Results tool) and secondary data calculated by EEA.
2. Description of data/Indicator definition:
   Gross Final Renewable Energy Consumption is the amount of renewable energy consumed in the member states with actual and normalised hydro and wind power generation and the share measured against gross final energy consumption. Gross final renewable energy consumption is composed of renewable energy for electricity, heating and cooling, and transport.

3. Geographical coverage:
   The Agency had 33 member countries. These are the 28 European Union Member States and Iceland plus Norway. Switzerland, Turkey and Liechtenstein are not covered in this factsheet due to lack of data for recent years.

4. Temporal coverage: 2005-2012

5. Methodology and frequency of data collection: Data collected annually.
   Eurostat definitions and concepts for energy statistics http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_SDDS/en/nrg_quant_esms.htm

6. Methodology of data manipulation:
   The share of renewable energy sources as a percentage of gross final energy consumption.
   The renewable energy shares data used for this indicator are directly taken from the Eurostat SHARES tool (2012).The SHARES tool focuses on the harmonised calculation of the share of energy from renewable sources among EU Member States according the guidelines of the Renewable Energy Directive and based on national energy data reported to Eurostat.
   The SHARES tool, detailed results and manual are http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/energy/other_documents
   
   Qualitative information

7. Strengths and weaknesses (at data level)
   Data have been traditionally compiled by Eurostat through the annual Joint Questionnaires, shared by Eurostat and the International Energy Agency, following a well established and harmonised methodology. Methodological information on the annual Joint Questionnaires and data compilation can be found in Eurostat's web page for metadata on energy statistics. http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_SDDS/en/nrg_quant_esms.htm
   In circumstances where data for one or more of the non-EU28 EEA countries is unavailable predictions based on previous years' values and percentage changes in reporting nations has been used
8. Reliability, accuracy, robustness, uncertainty (at data level):
   Indicator uncertainty (historic data):

• Biomass and wastes, as defined by Eurostat, cover organic, non-fossil material of biological origin, which may be used for heat production or electricity generation. They comprise wood and wood waste, biogas, municipal solid waste (MSW) and biofuels. MSW comprises biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes produced by different sectors. Non-biodegradable municipal and solid wastes are not considered to be renewable, but current data availability does not allow the non-biodegradable content of wastes to be identified separately, except for industry.
• The electricity produced as a result from hydropower storage systems is not classified as a renewable source of energy in terms of electricity production, but is part of the gross electricity consumption in a country. The hydro and wind generation is calculated as actual generation and normalised generation. Normalised generation is calculated by SHARES using the weighted average load factor over the last 15 years for hydro and 5-year for wind.
• The indicator measures the relative consumption of energy from renewable sources in total energy consumption for a particular country. The share of renewable energy could increase even if the actual energy consumption from renewable sources falls. Similarly, the share could fall despite an increase in energy consumption from renewable sources. CO₂ emissions depend not on the share of renewables but on the total amount of energy consumed from fossil sources. Therefore, from an environmental point of view, attaining the 2020 target for the share of renewable energy does not necessarily imply that CO₂ emissions from energy consumption will fall.
• Electricity consumption within the national territory includes imports of electricity from neighbouring countries. It also excludes the electricity produced nationally but exported abroad. In some countries the contribution of electricity trade to total electricity consumption and the changes observed from year to year need to be looked at carefully when analysing trends in renewable electricity. Impacts on the (national) environment are also affected since emissions are accounted where the electricity is produced whereas consumption is accounted where the electricity is consumed.

9.  Overall scoring – historic data (1 = no major problems, 3 = major reservations):

Methodology for gap filling

No gap filling necessary.

Methodology references

No methodology references available.

Data specifications

EEA data references

• No datasets have been specified here.

External data references

• Energy statistics (Eurostat)

Data sources in latest figures

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

Indicator uncertainty (historic data):
Biomass and wastes, as defined by Eurostat, cover organic, non-fossil material of biological origin, which may be used for heat production or electricity generation. They comprise wood and wood waste, biogas, municipal solid waste (MSW) and biofuels. MSW comprises biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes produced by different sectors. Non-biodegradable municipal and solid wastes are not considered to be renewable, but current data availability does not allow the non-biodegradable content of wastes to be identified separately, except for industry.

The electricity produced as a result from hydropower storage systems is not classified as a renewable source of energy in terms of electricity production, but is part of the gross electricity consumption in a country. The hydro and wind generation is calculated as actual generation and normalised generation. Normalised generation is calculated using the weighted average load factor over the last 15 years for hydro and 5-year for wind.

The indicator measures the relative consumption of energy from renewable sources in total energy consumption for a particular country. The share of renewable energy could increase even if the actual energy consumption from renewable sources falls. Similarly, the share could fall despite an increase in energy consumption from renewable sources. CO₂ emissions depend not on the share of renewables but on the total amount of energy consumed from fossil sources. Therefore, from an environmental point of view, attaining the 2020 target for the share of renewable energy does not necessarily imply that CO₂ emissions from energy consumption will fall.

Electricity consumption within the national territory includes imports of electricity from neighbouring countries. It also excludes the electricity produced nationally but exported abroad. In some countries the contribution of electricity trade to total electricity consumption and the changes observed from year to year need to be looked at carefully when analysing trends in renewable electricity. Impacts on the (national) environment are also affected since emissions are accounted where the electricity is produced whereas consumption is accounted where the electricity is consumed.

Data sets uncertainty

Strengths and weaknesses (at data level):

Data have been traditionally compiled by Eurostat through the annual Joint Questionnaires, shared by Eurostat and the International Energy Agency, following a well established and harmonised methodology. Methodological information on the annual Joint Questionnaires and data compilation can be found in Eurostat's web page for metadata on energy statistics. http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_SDDS/en/nrg_quant_esms.htm

Rationale uncertainty

No uncertainty has been specified