EU on track for green energy goal but UK lagging

The European Union is on track to meeting its 2020 renewable energy targets despite some nations lagging behind. The European Environment Agency (EEA), which provides analysis to EU policymakers, said […]

The European Union is on track to meeting its 2020 renewable energy targets despite some nations lagging behind.

The European Environment Agency (EEA), which provides analysis to EU policymakers, said the UK, Netherlands, Malta and Luxembourg generated less than 5% of energy, i.e. heat, transport and electricity, from renewable sources in 2013.

In Sweden, Latvia, Finland and Austria, renewable energy made up more than a third of their final usage during the same period.

Overall, the EU aims to produce at least 20% of its energy from renewable energy sources by the end of the decade.

The EEA’s report also found the EU’s consumption of fossil fuels would have been 7% higher in 2012 without the use of renewable energy since 2005.

Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director said: “Renewable energy is quickly becoming one of Europe’s great success stories. We can go even further: if we support innovation in this area it could become a major motor of Europe’s economy, bringing down emissions while creating jobs.”

DECC claims the UK is making “good progress” towards the 2020 target.

A spokesperson said: “The UK was in line with the first EU interim renewable energy target for 2011/12 and is firmly on course for the next one covering 2013/14.

“Energy from renewable sources has more than trebled since 2005 and growth in renewable electricity has been particularly strong, with 14.9% of UK electricity generated from renewable sources in 2013.”

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