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Renewable energy impacts dashboard

Dashboard (Tableau)

Prod-ID: DAS-182-en

Published 19 Dec 2019

This viewer shows estimates of the impacts of renewable energy consumption since 2005 on the use of fossil fuels and emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and air pollutants.

Related content

Based on data

Approximated estimates for the primary and final consumption of energy in 2018 (EEA 2018 proxies on primary and final energy consumption) The Energy Efficiency Directive 2012/27/EU (EED) establishes a common framework for the promotion of energy efficiency within the Union in order to ensure the achievement of the Union’s 2020 20 % headline target on energy efficiency and to pave the way for further energy efficiency improvements beyond that date. It also calls on Member States to set their own indicative national energy efficiency targets, which can be based on primary or final energy consumption, primary or final energy savings, or energy intensity. Since early access to the most recent information on energy consumption is relevant for all stakeholders, the EEA and its European Topic Centre for Air Pollution and Climate Change Mitigation (ETC/ACM) produce each year a set of early estimates concerning the consumption of primary and final energy in the previous year, across the EU as a whole and in each Member State. These estimates are defined in accordance with the methodology that underpinned the energy efficiency targets for 2020 and 2030, and they correspond to the new indicator codes PEC2020-2030 and FEC2020-2030 from Eurostat. The current data set concerns the EEA 2018 proxies on primary and final energy consumption (PEC2020-2030; FEC2020-2030).

Approximated estimates for the share of gross final consumption of renewable energy sources in 2018 (EEA 2018 RES share proxies) Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion and use of energy from renewable sources commits the EU to achieving a 20 % share of renewable energy sources (RES) in its gross final energy consumption by 2020 and a 10 % share of renewable energy in transport energy consumption by the same year. Since early access to the most recent information on the growth of RES is relevant for all stakeholders, the EEA and its European Topic Centre for Air Pollution and Climate Change Mitigation (ETC/ACM) produce each year a set of early estimates concerning the RES shares achieved by the countries and the EU as a whole in the previous year. The current data set concerns the EEA 2018 RES share proxies. The cut-off date for most data sources incorporated in the calculation of the approximated 2018 RES shares was 31 July 2019.

Approximated estimates for greenhouse gas emissions The Monitoring Mechanism Regulation ((EU) No 525/2013) requires Member States to annually report approximated greenhouse gas inventories by 31 July. A Union approximated greenhouse gas inventory is annually compiled on the basis of the Member States’ approximated greenhouse gas inventories or, if a Member State has not communicated its approximated inventories by that date, on the basis of own estimates.

Related briefings

Renewable energy in Europe: key for climate objectives, but air pollution needs attention The European energy system is undergoing rapid changes to set the EU economy on a low-carbon and resource-efficient path. Renewable energy is instrumental to this transformation. EU efforts to double the share of renewable energy in its consumption have paid off, having reduced significantly the amount of fossil fuels used and their associated greenhouse gas emissions. Concerning air pollutant emissions however, the outcomes were not always positive: in countries where biomass burning has increased considerably since 2005, emissions of certain air pollutants have also increased. This briefing presents an estimate of the impact of renewable energy consumption on fossil fuel use, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and air pollution since 2005.

Related publications

Approximated EU GHG inventory: proxy GHG estimates for 2018 The EEA's annual report on EU approximated GHG inventory for 2018

Trends and projections in Europe 2019 - Tracking progress towards Europes climate and energy targets The annual ‘Trends and projections’ report provides an assessment of the progress of the EU and European countries towards their climate mitigation and energy targets. It is based on national data for greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy and energy consumption.

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Geographic coverage

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

Temporal coverage

2005-2018

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For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/energy/renewable-energy/renewables-crucial-for-eu-decarbonisation or scan the QR code.

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