How green is Europe's energy? – How green is Europe's energy?

Published on: July 24, 2019 / Updated on: August 7, 2021 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

How green is Europe's energy? – @shutterstock | CarpathianPrince

It's a climate protection initiative: By 2020, the European Union (EU) aims to 20 percent of its gross final energy consumption from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. EU member states have set their own individual targets for this. However, according to the latest Eurostat data , which refers to 2017, very few countries have yet achieved their climate goals.

Sweden, the most ambitious country in expanding renewable energy, already exceeded its 2017 target of 49 percent and currently leads the EU ranking with a share of 54.5 percent. In Finland, renewable energy accounts for 41 percent of gross final energy consumption – meaning the country has also already surpassed its targets.

Other countries, such as France and the Netherlands, lag far behind despite setting modest targets, as the graphic shows. Germany, with a share of 15.5 percent renewable energy, is below the EU average. Some German states aim to accelerate progress toward the EU targets by introducing mandatory solar . This includes a requirement for solar carports in open parking areas .

The situation in Austria, on the other hand, looks better: In 2017, the Alpine republic already obtained 32.6 percent of its energy from renewable sources and is well on its way to achieving its targets by 2020.

A country's gross final energy consumption includes all energy products such as electricity, district heating, gas and fuels that are used by private households, businesses, trade and services, industry and transport.

It is a project for climate protection: By 2020, the European Union (EU) wants to feed 20 percent of gross final energy consumption from alternative energy sources such as wind and sun. The EU member states have set themselves individual targets for this. According to the latest Eurostat data , which refer to the year 2017, only very few countries have reached their climate target.

Sweden, the most ambitious country in the expansion of renewable energies, has already exceeded its target of 49 percent in 2017 and is currently at the top of the EU ranking with a share of 54.5 percent. In Finland, renewable energies account for 41 percent of gross final energy consumption, which means that the country has already exceeded its targets.

Other countries such as France and the Netherlands are lagging far behind despite their low targets, as the chart shows. With a share of 15.5 percent renewable energies, Germany is below the EU average. On the other hand, things look better in Austria: In 2017, the Alpine Republic already received 32.6 percent of its energy from renewable sources and is well on the way to achieving its targets by 2020.

A country's gross final energy consumption includes all energy products such as electricity, district heating, gas and fuels purchased from private households, commerce, trade and services, industry and transport.

How green is Europe's energy? – Image: Statista