Indicator Assessment

Renewable gross final energy consumption

Indicator Assessment

Prod-ID: IND-125-en

Also known as: CSI 048 , ENER 028

Published 30 Apr 2012 Last modified 11 May 2021

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Topics: Energy

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In 2009, the share of renewable energy in final gross energy consumption (with normalised hydro and wind)[1] in the EU-27 was 11.7 % up from 6% in 1990, representing nearly 60 % of the 20 % target set in the EU directive on renewable energy for 2020. Renewable energies represented in 2009, 13.1% of total final heat consumption (6.6% in 1990), 19.6% of electricity consumption (up from 11.8% in 1990) and 4.1% of transport fuels consumption (up from 0.02% in 1993)[2].

[1] Gross final consumption of energy is defined in Directive 2009/28/EC on renewable sources as energy commodities delivered for energy purposes to final consumers (industry, transport, households, 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.

[2] The gross final consumption of energy from renewable sources is calculated as the sum of: (a) gross final consumption of electricity from renewable energy sources; (b) gross final consumption of energy from renewable sources for heating and cooling; and (c) final consumption of energy from renewable sources in transport.

In the EU-27, renewables accounted for 11.7% of final energy consumption in 2009 compared to 6% in 1990, representing nearly 60% of the 2020 target (see Figure 2). Renewable energy consumption mainly increased from 2005 to 2009; in the same time the overall final energy consumption decreased by 1.7%/year. In 2009 and despite the economic and financial crisis, renewable energy consumption continues to grow (+4.9%) as total final energy consumption falls (-5.2%).The fastest progression in the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption between 2005 and 2009 is mainly observed in Sweden and Austria (+6.8 percentage points and 6.5 percentage points), followed by Estonia (+5.4 percentage points), Romania (+5.3 percentage points), Spain (+4.7 percentage points) and Portugal (4.1 percentage points). Most of EU countries proposes financial (subsidies/ soft loans for energy efficiency investments / equipment) or fiscal incentives (tax reduction for energy/CO2 efficient equipment/investments, tax credit /deduction) to promote renewables, especially in the household sector[1]. For renewable electricity, most countries have implemented feed-in tariff and/or green certificates to increase the electricity production from renewables (see below).

The share of renewable energy in final energy consumption across non-EU EEA countries in 2009 was higher than in the EU-27 (around 24%). The higher number for these countries is linked to the high share of hydroelectricity in Norway, (65.1 %.including other renewables). The final consumption of renewables however decreased by 0.4%/year since 1990 and dropped in 2009 by 4.1%.

[1] More information available in the MURE database (http//www.mure2.com and in the data base of the World Energy Council on policies and measures (http://www.wec-policies.enerdata.eu/)

In 2009, renewable electricity (with normalised hydropower and wind) accounted for around 40.6 % of renewable energy consumption in EU-27 (39.7% in 1990, 43.6% in 2005). The largest portion of renewable electricity in EU-27 is still generated from hydropower. In 2009, 352 TWh of electricity were generated from hydropower (normalised hydro) representing 55.6% in total renewable electricity. The largest contributors of non hydro renewable electricity are Germany (30%), Spain (18%), Italy, UK (8% each), France and Sweden (5% each). Wind generation (normalised) increased by 18.5%/year in EU since 2005, due to a rapid increase in Germany (+11.5%/year, contribution of 31% in the 2009 EU wind production), Spain (16.4%/year, contribution 28%), UK (34.2%/year, contribution 7%) and France (66.4%/year, contribution of 6%) (see ENER 27).

All countries in Europe have introduced renewable policies and support scheme for renewables in their Energy Plan: 16 EEA countries offer feed-in tariffs to support development of electricity generation from renewables. In six countries, tariffs are mixed with premiums on top of the market price to compensate the difference when wholesale electricity price is below a fixed guaranteed tariff: Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Slovenia, Estonia and the Czech Republic. In other six countries, a green certificate scheme has been preferred: Sweden, UK, Belgium, Italy, Poland and Romania. Electricity producers have to certify a certain quota of the electricity distributed is generated from renewables.

In 2009, renewable heat accounted for 13.1% of total final heat consumption. Between 1990 and 2009, the amount of heat produced from direct use of biomass was 58.3 Mtoe, representing 43.5% of the final renewable energy consumption. Heat production from large biomass CHP and heat plants[1] was 9.4 Mtoe, representing a threefold increase since 1990. In 2009, it accounted for 7.1% of the final renewable energy consumption. The main producers of biomass-derived heat are Sweden (32%), Germany (17%), Finland (14%), Denmark (13%) and Austria (7%), which together accounted for 82 % of the total biomass use for heat production in CHP and heat plants in 2009.

In 2009, the share of biofuels in petrol and diesel reached 4.1 % in EU-27, representing 70% of the target of 5.75% in 2010 and a steep increase compared to 2005 ( +3.1 percentage points). In 2009, four countries have already exceeded the 2010 target : Slovakia with 9.8%, followed by Austria (7%), France (6.2%) and Germany (5.8%). In 2009, Germany was by far the largest consumer of biofuels, accounting for 23 % of total biofuels consumption in the EU-27, followed by France with 21%. However, recent policy developments such as reduced tax exemptions for biofuels and introduction of a quota system with a level lower than expected are likely to temper further development of biofuels in Germany, in the near future.

[1] Biomass derived residual heat from CHP and heat plant.

Between 1990 and 2009, renewable heat consumption in EU-27 increased by 50% in the industry sector and by 56% in other sectors (households, services, etc). Sweden, Germany and Finland are the largest users of renewable heat in industry, accounting for around 46% of total EU-27 industrial consumption of renewable heat in 2009. Due to the presence of a large pulp and paper industry, Finland and Sweden have a large resource of black liquors which is used to produce industrial heat. France, Germany and Turkey are among the countries with the highest consumption of renewable heat in other sectors (households, services, etc). Germany, Romania and Poland contributed the most to the absolute growth in the consumption of renewable heat in the other sectors. Turkey showed a large decline in the use of renewables for heat production in the other sectors between 1990 and 2009 (-30.8 %); this is due in part to a transition of wood fuelled domestic heating systems to gas and district heating.

Supporting information

Indicator definition

Final Renewable Energy Consumption is the amount of renewable energy consumed in the member states with actual and normalised 15-year hydro power generation and 4-year wind and the share in the total final energy consumption. The final renewable energy consumption is composed of renewable energy for heat, renewable energy for electricity and the use of biofuels in transport. The electricity production of hydro power is calculated both as actual production and normalised production over a 15-year weighted average (4-year weighted average for wind).

The indicator is developed for measuring the contribution to the 2020 objectives on renewable energy for the EU-27. The Directive 2009/28/EC establishes an overall EU binding target of a 20 % share of renewable energy sources in energy consumption, as well as binding national targets by 2020 in line with the overall target. The overall share of renewable energy in the final energy consumption[1] includes consumption of electricity and heat from renewable energy sources as well as biofuels consumption.

[1] Final Renewable Energy Consumption is the amount of renewable energy consumed in the member states with actual and normalised 15-year hydro power generation and 4-year wind and the share in the total final energy consumption. Due to this constraints, normalized data are only available from 2004 to 2009.

Units

Final energy consumption, Distribution losses, Consumption - Electricity generation sector: MToe

Gross inland consumption, Total gross electricity generation: GWh

Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

Electricity and heat produced from renewable energy sources are generally considered more environmentally benign than other sources. Replacing part of the traditional transport fuels with biofuels could also have a positive environmental impact (e.g. reduced life-cycle GHG emissions), depending on which biomass is used, how and where it is grown and transported and which transformation technology is used. An increased share of renewable energy sources in final energy consumption is thus likely to reduce pressures on the environment and human health resulting from energy production.

This indicator is closely linked with ENER 27, ENER 29, and ENER 30

Scientific references

Policy context and targets

Context description

Environmental context

The share of electricity consumption from renewable energy sources provides a broad indication of progress towards reducing the environmental impact of electricity consumption on the environment as renewable electricity is generally considered to have lower life-cycle environmental impact per unit of electricity produced than fossil-fuelled power plants (link with the EEA “Life Cycle Analysis” LCA). Increasing the share of renewables in electricity consumption will help the EU to reduce theGHG emissions from power generation but the overall impact will depend on which generation sources are being replaced in the energy system.

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 (MSW), which due to high costs of separation, usually involves the combustion of some mixed wastes including materials contaminated with heavy metals. Emissions to the atmosphere from MSW incineration are subject to stringent regulations including tight controls on emissions of cadmium, mercury, and other such substances.

The exploitation of renewable energy sources may have negative impacts on landscapes, habitats and ecosystems, although many impacts can be minimised through careful site selection. Hydropower schemes in particular 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 impacts on the areas in which they are sited. Some types of biomass and biofuel crops have considerable land, water and agricultural input requirements such as fertilisers and pesticides.

Policy context

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.

Council adopted on 6 April 2009 the climate-energy legislative package containing measures to fight climate change and promote renewable energy. This package is designed to achieve the EU's overall environmental target of a 20 % reduction in greenhouse gases and a 20 % share of renewable energy in the EU's total energy consumption by 2020.The climate action and renewable energy (CARE) package includes the following main policy documents:

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
Directive 2009/31/EC of the European parliament and of the Council on the geological storage of carbon dioxide
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)
Directive 2008/101/EC of the European parliament and of the Council amending directive 2003/87/ec so as to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas Emission allowance trading within the community
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 CO₂emissions from light-duty vehicles

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)

Targets

In 2009 the European Commission adopted a new directive on renewable energy[1] that set an ambitious target of 20% share of energy from renewable sources in final energy consumption by 2020 for the EU-27 and a 10% share of renewable energy in the transport sector.

In 2009, five countries almost reached their targets for 2020: Sweden and Romania are the closest with, respectively 97% and 95% of the target in 2009, followed by Estonia (91%), Austria (89%) and Latvia (89%) (see Figure 2).

According to a recent progress report of the EC (EU, 2011), progress in deploying renewable energy has been made across the EU in recent years. However, the report also highlights that there is still limited convergence in Member States' performance in developing renewable energy sources.

Further growth to achieve the 20% target will depend on further fine-tuning of existing policy frameworks, improve market conditions for grid access of renewable sources, fully implement a guarantee of origin system to allow further development of renewable consumer market. In addition, a better, more integrated planning would 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.

[1] 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

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

Methodology of data manipulation:
The share of renewable energy as a percentage of final energy consumption. The coding used (in the Eurostat database) and specific components of the indicator are:

A. Final energy consumption 101700 (0000 all products), ktoe
B. Final energy consumption - Industry 101800 (0000 all products), ktoe
C. Final energy consumption - Households/Services 102000 (0000 all products), ktoe
D. Consumption - Electricity generation sector 101301 (6000 electrical energy), ktoe
E. Distribution losses 101400 (6000 electrical energy), ktoe
F. Final energy consumption - Industry 101800 (6000 electrical energy), ktoe
G. Final energy consumption - Households/Services 102000 (6000 electrical energy), ktoe
H. Gross inland consumption 100900 (6000 electrical energy), GWh
I. Total gross electricity generation 107000 (6000 electrical energy), GWh
J. Gross electricity generation - Geothermal power plants 107002 (6000 electrical energy), GWh
K. Gross electricity generation - Wind turbines (6000 electrical energy), GWh calculated as a sum of main electricity activity only (15_107046) and autoproducers (15_107047)
L. Gross electricity generation - Biomass-fired power stations (6000 electrical energy), GWh calculated as a sum of :

industrial wastes (main electricity activity 22_108901, Main activity CHP plants 22_108902, Autoproducer electricity only 22_108903, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108904)
municipal wastes (main electricity activity 22_108911, Main activity CHP plants 22_108912, Autoproducer electricity only 22_108913, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108914)
municipal wastes (non renewable): (main electricity activity 22_108921, Main activity CHP plants 22_108922, Autoproducer electricity only 22_108923, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108924)
Wood, Wood Wastes and Other Solid Wastes: (main electricity activity 22_108931, Main activity CHP plants 22_108932, Autoproducer electricity only 22_108933, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108934)
Landfill gas : (main electricity activity 22_108941, Main activity CHP plants 22_108942, Autoproducer electricity only 22_108943, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108944)
Sludge gas: (main electricity activity 22_108951, Main activity CHP plants 22_108952, Autoproducer electricity only 22_108953, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108954)
Other biogas: (main electricity activity 22_108961, Main activity CHP plants 22_108962, Autoproducer electricity only 22_108963, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108964)
Other liquid biofuels: (main electricity activity 22_108971, Main activity CHP plants 22_108972, Autoproducer electricity only 22_108973, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108974)

M. Gross production from solar (6000 electrical energy), GWh calculated as a sum :

Main activity electricity only - Solar Photovoltaic (14_1070421)
Main activity electricity only - Solar Thermal (14_1070422)
Autoproducer electricity only – Solar (14_1070431)

N. Consumption - Electricity generation sector 101301 (5200 derived heat), ktoe
O. Distribution losses 101400 (5200 derived heat), ktoe
P. Origin : Biomass 109300 (5200 derived heat), ktoe calculated as a sum :

industrial wastes (Main activity CHP plants 22_108906, Main activity heat only plants 22_108907, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108908, Autoproducer heat only plants 22_108909)
municipal wastes (Main activity CHP plants 22_108916, Main activity heat only plants 22_108917, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108918, Autoproducer heat only plants 22_108919)
municipal wastes (non renewable): (Main activity CHP plants 22_108926, Main activity heat only plants 22_108927, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108928, Autoproducer heat only plants 22_108929)
Wood, Wood Wastes and Other Solid Wastes: (Main activity CHP plants 22_108936, Main activity heat only plants 22_108937, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108938, Autoproducer heat only plants 22_108939)
Landfill gas : (Main activity CHP plants 2222_108946, Main activity heat only plants 22_108947, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108948, Autoproducer heat only plants 22_108949)
Sludge gas: (Main activity CHP plants 22_108956, Main activity heat only plants 22_108957, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108958, Autoproducer heat only plants 22_108959)
Other biogas: (Main activity CHP plants 22_108966, Main activity heat only plants 22_108967, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108968, Autoproducer heat only plants 22_108969)
Other liquid biofuels: (Main activity CHP plants 22_108976, Main activity heat only plants 22_108977, Autoproducer CHP plants 22_108978, Autoproducer heat only plants 22_108979)

Q. Final energy consumption - Transport 101900 (3230 motor spirit), ktoe
R. Final energy consumption - Transport 101900 (3260 gas / diesel oil), ktoe
S. Final energy consumption - Industry 101800 (5500 renewable energies), ktoe
T. Final energy consumption - Households/Services 102000 (5500 renewable energies), ktoe
U. Primary production 100100 (5510 hydro power), ktoe
V. Primary production 100100 (5510 hydro power), GWh
W. Final energy consumption - Transport 101900 (5545 biofuels), ktoe
X. Net installed capacity - Hydro power stations 117605 (6000 electrical energy), MW calculated as a sum:

Electrical capacity, main activity producers 12_1176051
Electrical capacity, autoproducers - Hydro 12_1176052

Y. Net installed capacity - Pumped storage plants 117607 (6000 electrical energy), MW

Electrical capacity, main activity producers - Pumped Hydro 12_1176071
Electrical capacity, autoproducers - Pumped Hydro 12_1176072

Heat:
i. Share of RE for heat in Industry: S / (B – F)
ii. Share of RE for heating in Households, Services, etc.: T / (C – G)
iii. Total consumption in Industry and Other Sectors: B + C
iv. Total Electricity consumption in Industry and Households: F + G
v. Total RE input for heat in industry and Other Sectors: S + T
vi. Share of renewables to total final heat needs: (v + P) / (iii – iv)

Electricity:
vii. Hydro installed capacity excluding pumping in MW: X – Y
viii. Hydro weighted average load factor, last 15 years: SUM ((U / vii) * (vii / (SUM last 15 years X – SUM last 15 years Y)))
ix. Normalised hydro generation (excluding pumping): vii * viii
x. Total Gross electricity consumption: (I + H) * 3.6 / 41.868
xi. Electricity generation from RE with actual hydro generation: (V + J + K + L + M) * 3.6 / 41.868
xii. Electricity generation from RE without hydro generation: (J + K + L + M) * 3.6 / 41.868
xiii. Electricity generation from RE with normalised hydro generation: ix + xii
xiv. RE-e to total gross electricity consumption: xi / x
xv. RE-e with normalised hydro (15 year average load factor): xiii / x

Biofuels:
xvi. Total final consumption of petrol and diesel for transport: Q + R
xvii. Share of biofuels in petrol and diesel consumption for road transport: W / xvi

Overall Target:
xviii. Share of RE to Final Energy Consumption: (v + P + xi + W) / (A + E +O + D + N)
xix. Share of RE to FEC with normalised for hydro: (v + P + xiii + W) / (A + E + O + D + N)

Geographical coverage:
The Agency had 32 member countries at the time of writing of this fact sheet. These are the 27 European Union Member States and Turkey, plus Norway and Switzerland

Temporal coverage:
1990-2009, normalised hydro is calculated over a 15-year average (and 4-year for wind): for this reason normalised data are available from 2004 to 2009 only

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

Methodology for gap filling

No methodology for gap filling has been specified. Probably this info has been added together with indicator calculation.

Methodology references

No methodology references available.

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 4-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

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

Data sources

Energy statistics (Eurostat)
provided by Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat)

Other info

DPSIR: Impact
Typology: Efficiency indicator (Type C - Are we improving?)

Indicator codes

CSI 048
ENER 028

EEA Contact Info info@eea.europa.eu

Permalinks

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Older versions

11 Aug 2011 - Renewable gross final energy consumption

26 Jan 2011 - Renewable gross final energy consumption

Geographic coverage

Austria Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey United Kingdom

Temporal coverage

1990-2009 2020

For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/renewable-gross-final-energy-consumption/renewable-gross-final-energy-consumption-3 or scan the QR code.

PDF generated on 20 Apr 2024, 05:06 AM

Dates

First draft created:

04 Apr 2012, 12:01 PM

Publish date:

30 Apr 2012, 05:06 PM

Last modified:

11 May 2021, 11:48 AM

Topics

Topics: Energy