The war in Ukraine and the resulting rise in energy prices have created a renewed boom in the European Union. Nearly 40 percent of electricity in The European Union came in 2022 from renewable energy sources. Fossil energy represented 38 percent. Solar energy increased last year by about 50 percentdouble the previous record.
The European Union has decided that in 2030 it will have 42.5 percent renewable energy of total energy consumption, but this requires increased investment in wind energy both on land and at least offshore. But increasing costs and long processing times, especially for wind energy, pose a major challenge.
This huge investment in renewable energy sources creates problems, because solar and wind energy are weather-dependent forms of energy. In fresh Report from Acer Energy Agency and the European Union Environment Agency (EEA) Member States are now being warned. Significant investment must be made in the network, especially with regard to transfers between member states.
Flexibility in this system must be doubled until 2030.
Network investments provide climate benefits
The report shows that a better-functioning grid that sends energy where it is needed most could provide the European Union in 2030 with electricity equivalent to Sweden’s consumption in 2022.
In addition, this will reduce the need for EU countries to have stable electricity reserves such as coal or gas. The so-called power mechanism. Acer had previously warned about this Using gas and coal specifically as backup capacity can extend the life of the fossil. In addition, it is expensive. In 2022, €5.2 billion was used to finance capacity-building mechanisms in Member States. This is expected to rise by 40 percent in 2023 to reach €7.4 billion. This means that about NOK 85 billion was spent, most of which was spent on coal and gas energy.
Renewable targets at risk?
Although record numbers have been set in the European Union when it comes to renewable energy development, there are concerns. This is especially true for offshore wind energy. The website wrote that the European Commission will present, on Tuesday, October 24, an action plan to boost investment in wind energy EURACTIV.
Euractiv has seen a preliminary version of the document to be submitted by the Commission.
The draft says marine renewable energy is “an indispensable part of the energy mix necessary to decarbonize and achieve the goal of climate neutrality.”
It is believed that projects with a capacity of up to 80 gigawatts are awaiting permission from national authorities. Speeding up the licensing process will be an important step. But the document also outlines measures needed to limit competition from China.
The article was published in association with Energy and climate.
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