Renewables to Exceed Fossil Fuels in European Generation by 2020

[kristopher]

Renewables to Exceed Fossil Fuels in European Generation by 2020
By Rachel Morison, Bloomberg
April 3, 2013


LONDON -- Europe's share of generation capacity using renewable sources will rise to at least 40 percent by 2020, exceeding capacity fueled by coal, natural gas and oil, according to the region's grid operators group Entsoe.

Renewable electricity output capacity will grow by about 50 percent to 512 gigawatts by the end of the decade, Entsoe said in a report published today. Generation capacity using fossil fuels may rise 0.7 percent to 471 gigawatts in the same period. Nuclear production accounts for most of the rest, according to Entsoe’s figures.

The European Union aims to generate 20 percent of its power from renewable energy by 2020 and cut reliance on carbon-heavy coal and oil output. Carbon emissions fell 1.4 percent in Europe last year as the 27-nation bloc worked toward reducing emissions by 20 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.

“Wind, solar and biomass power plants are expected to increase, while the share of hydropower plants is expected to decrease,” Entsoe said. The increasing volume of variable renewable generation urgently requires “complementary measures” to ensure the balancing of the system, it said.

Norway will remain the country with the most power produced from renewables with 96 percent in 2020...

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/04/renewables-to-exceed-fossil-fuels-in-european-generation-by-2020??cmpid=SolarNL-Thursday-April4-2013

[AverageJoe90]

1. Thanks, Kris. Always good to see good news, instead of just all bad in this regard.

It's time for us here in America to do the same as well.

[kristopher]

2. It is long past time

There is some progress being made here, but nothing like what the problem requires.

[RobertEarl]

3. Our American idea

The greatest single point users of electricity in the US pay less per kwh than poor folks living in a shack.

Large factories and other great users get a *More you use, less you pay* deal from power suppliers.

In a balanced market, solar would be an affordable alternative for large users. The power suppliers know this and therefore make it cheaper to buy from them than for a large user to set up its own solar self-supply.

[RobertEarl]

4. An example

A company uses 100 units of power a day.

The electric supplier charges $1 a unit to that company.

Meanwhile Granny is being charged $1.50 per unit.

When a company that can afford solar, looks at solar and sees that it would cost them $1.50 per unit to self supply with solar they decide paying $1 a unit to the supplier is cheaper.

Big power companies are worried about solar self-supply taking their business, therefore they charge those who might decide to self-supply a rate which undercuts solar and they make it up charging Granny, who can't afford solar, even more.