A statistical report released by the British climate think tank Ember shows that wind and solar power will account for a record 22.3% of total electricity generation in EU countries in 2022, surpassing nuclear (21.9%) and natural gas (19.9%) for the first time to become the largest source of electricity in the EU.
Record-breaking
"Europe has avoided its worst energy crisis," said Dave Jones, head of data analysis at Ember, adding that "the 2022 shock resulted in only a slight increase in coal power, but triggered a huge wave of support for renewables. Fears of a coal power rebound are over." Growth in renewable energy in the EU has been driven largely by solar, with photovoltaic generation increasing by a record 39 TWh last year, up 24 percent year-on-year. Ember calculates that the growth in solar power has saved the EU at least 10 billion euros in gas costs.
This record was made possible by, among other things
A rare drought that caused a decline in hydroelectricity, a major outage in nuclear power, and an energy crisis caused by the Russian-Ukrainian war that significantly increased the cost of natural gas.
In total, these above events create a generation gap equivalent to 7% of the total European electricity demand in 2022, of which about 83% is filled by wind and solar power, in addition to the declining electricity demand in the last quarter of 2022 (saving electricity).
About 20 EU countries set a new record for PV generation in 2022! The Netherlands is in first place, with a 14% contribution from PV, and the first time in the country's history that PV has surpassed coal, followed by Spain and Germany.
Outlook 2023
In recent years, the EU has given a major boost to renewable energy development, investing heavily in wind and solar projects. This investment is already paying off, with solar power also growing in 2021, with 25.9 million kW of new PV capacity installed in the EU's 27 member states, a 34% increase over 2020 and also breaking the EU's record for new PV installations in the last 10 years.
Wind and solar energy, as renewable energy sources, not only benefit the environment, but also have economic benefits. As technology advances and economies of scale are realized, the cost of wind and solar continues to fall, meaning that the shift to renewable energy is increasingly affordable for consumers and businesses alike. maysun Solar has produced a "Guide to Buying PV Panels" (link to blog post).
In addition to the economic benefits, increased use of renewable energy can help reduce the EU's dependence on imported energy, improve energy security and reduce the region's exposure to energy price volatility. The EU's record-breaking shift to wind and solar energy has served as a strong example for other countries to follow.
Wind and solar energy becoming the EU's primary source of electricity by 2022 is a huge milestone in the renewable energy sector and a sign of the growing trend toward cleaner, greener energy.
As a PV module manufacturer with 14 years of expertise, Maysun Solar is ready to partner with you to help the energy transition. Contact us to open the door to green energy.