Ninety percent of Europeans say their governments must set targets to increase the amount of renewables in the energy mix by 2030, according to a survey by Eurobarometer – the European Commission’s polling service.

In a special report gauging public opinion on climate change, the European Commission [EC] found that nine in ten Europeans are backing an increase in renewable energy targets.

While the poll did not ask whether a rise in the targets must also be legally binding at national level, it indicates that European citizens are in favour of pushing ahead on renewable technologies.

It comes at a time when policymakers in Brussels attempt to thrash out a new climate and energy package for 2030. In January, the European Commission proposed a flaccid RES target of 27%, a mere 7 percentage point hike on the current 2020 target, and not enforceable on each member state.

EWEA is calling for a binding target of no less than 30%, which would encourage investment and create 568,000 more jobs in Europe.

Fossil fuel imports

Eurobarometer’s poll also showed that 70% of Europeans believe that reducing fossil fuel imports would spur economic growth among the EU’s 28 member states at a time when many nations, particularly in southern Europe, are implementing harsh austerity measures.

EWEA Chief Executive Officer Thomas Becker said on 5 March: “Let us invest in wind and renewables – European energy sources which do not have to be imported, which will not run out, in industries in which Europe leads the world. Renewable energy is already providing well over 20% of our electricity and can do far more.”

In a report by The European Wind Energy Association [EWEA] called ‘Avoiding Fossil Fuel Costs with Wind Energy’, data from the EC shows that Europe spent €545 billion on fossil fuel imports in 2012 — that’s around three times more than the Greek bailout up to 2013.

The full report will be released on 10 March at the opening of EWEA’s Annual Event in Barcelona.

More information: www.ewea.org/annual2014

Wind turbines are proving they can operate effectively for 25 years. That means a single wind turbine has a lifespan similar to that of solar panels and gas turbines, and nearly one-third that of human beings.

An Imperial College Business school study found that Britain’s oldest onshore turbines generate 75% of their original output after 19 years of operation. The study projected the turbines to remain effective through 25 years.

This is despite noisy claims from some quarters that wind turbines are only effective for a decade.

Sceptics have also been concerned about the greenhouse gas emissions created as a result of required maintenance on turbines over their long lifespans, but a different study showed that wind energy still minimises greenhouse gas emissions more than nearly all other energy sources.

“The new research from Imperial College London brings solid evidence that wind farms meet technical feasibility and economic viability requirements throughout their lifespan,” said EWEA’s Angeliki Koulouri.

The study should instill faith in concerned wind energy investors, said Richard Green, co-author and heat of the Department of Management at Imperial College Business School. He was quoted, “This study gives a ‘thumbs up’ to the technology and shows that renewable energy is an asset for the long term.”

In 2013 Spain achieved a world first – it became the only country in the world where wind energy was the leading electricity supplier over a whole year. The Spanish electricity system operator, Red Eléctrica de España (REE), reported that wind powered electricity met 20.9% of the country’s power demand, followed by nuclear at 20.8%.

Wind produced 54,478 Gigawatt hours of electricity in 2013 in Spain, a 13.2% increase compared to 2012. Nuclear meanwhile produced 2,377 Gigawatt hours more than wind last year, but its contribution to the power demand was lower because it consumes more electricity than wind farms to run its facilities, the Spanish Wind Energy Association (AEE) explained. continue reading »

Over 1000 European cities have written a joint letter to European Council president Herman Van Rompuy to call for a 30% renewable energy target for 2030, alongside a 40% energy efficiency target.

On 22 January, the European Commission proposed a 40% greenhouse gas reduction target and a 27% renewable energy target that is non-binding at the national level. But the European Parliament voted in favour of stronger targets (a 30% renewable energy target subdivided between Member States and a 40% energy efficiency target). Energy Cities, the alliance representing the 1,000 cities, is hoping the EU Heads of State, who meet on the topic on 20-21 March, will follow the MEPs’ more ambitious lead.

Energy Cities president Eckart Würzner identified problems with the Commission’s weak proposals as well as problems with the clash between EU institutions’ visions. He was quoted in a EurActiv article saying, “I personally sense a great deal of disillusionment among my citizens towards European politics. An ambitious EU climate and energy policy that tackled economic growth, fuel poverty and quality of life issues would ultimately contribute to restoring trust in European institutions.”

Energy Cities represents urban Europe because they believe “the fight against climate change will be won or lost in urban areas.” An Economist analysis predicts that 33% of cities will be affected by climate change by 2025, largely due to the fact that cities are responsible for 70% of greenhouse gas emissions.

CEOs of six leading European energy companies voiced their support for a strong 2030 climate and energy framework at a EuropeBusiness press conference on Wednesday 12 February. As stated in a EuropeBusiness press release, the CEOs requested EU Heads of State to follow in the footsteps of the European Parliament and vote in favor of ambitious, nationally binding renewable energy targets.

There was a clear consensus between the CEOs that renewable energy and policies that encourage renewable energy are in Europe’s best interest; a binding 30 percent 2030 target could create 570,000 more jobs and save €260 billion in fossil fuel imports compared with only a greenhouse gas target, they said. As they answered questions from journalists, the CEOs also identified a number of other benefits of strong 2030 targets.

There are significant economic benefits: Alstom Senior Vice-President Denis Cochet said Europe can save €1.5 billion a year in power generation costs by establishing a more interconnected grid. Vestas CEO Anders Runevad said, “Existing policy commitments have helped us to reduce the cost of energy up to now. Further reducing the cost of energy requires the investment certainty that an ambitious, long-term EU policy commitment provides. Let’s not stop before crossing the finish line.”

There is the benefit of improving energy security-sufficiency: RES Med CEO Jean-Marc Armitano explained that the targets are crucial for limiting Europe’s dependency on foreign fossil fuels.

And there is the benefit of reassuring investors: Rafael Mateo, CEO of Acciona Energia said “We need stable, long-term frameworks and legal certainty for investors because energy is a long-term business.” He pointed out that long-term frameworks are needed in order to match the long-term investments that are expected to be made in the industry.

Enercon Managing Director Hans-Dieter Kettwig criticised the utility companies that aren’t using renewables, saying that they need to be “more proactive” and “accept a new industry is coming.” The EU is responsible for encouraging the emergence of this new industry with its far-sighted policies until now; ERG Renew CEO Massimo Derchi called out EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso for committing to EU-wide energy policy but then essentially renationalizing it by not including binding national targets.