How fast is the share of renewable energy from biomass and waste increasing in Europe?

Key messages

(05 Jul 2010)

The share of renewable energy sources in gross inland energy consumption (GEIC) increased in the EU-27 from 4.4% in 1990 to 7.8% in 2007. The strongest increase came from wind (more than one hundred thirty-fold) and solar energy (eightfold). In absolute terms, biomass accounted for 79.2 % of the increase and wind for 13.1 %. Because the gross inland energy consumption of the EU-27 increased by 8.7% between 1990 and 2007, some of the environmental benefits (e.g. reductions in GHG emissions and air pollution) brought about by an increased share of renewable energy sources were offset. In 2007, the share of renewable energy in total gross inland consumption in EU-15 was 8%, hence a significant effort will be needed to meet the indicative target of 12 % share of renewables by 2010.

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