Renewable energy production must grow fast to reach the 2020 target

Europe has committed to obtain 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. An analysis of the 27 EU Member State action plans shows that renewable energy output is projected to grow by 6% per year on average. Wind power, solar electricity and biofuels are foreseen to contribute with the highest growth rates. If all Member States follow the trajectory outlined in their plans, the EU will exceed its 20% renewable energy target by 0.7 percentage points.

Supported by the European Environment Agency (EEA), a data report and database on published National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs) has been compiled by the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN). It may be accessed via the Related Url.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 16.3.11: Wind market forecast predicts fair breeze ahead http://www.euractiv.com/specialreport-wind-energy/wind-market-forecast-predicts-fair-breezes-ahead-news-503132

Website: Global Wind Energy Council http://www.gwec.net/

Global Wind Energy Council: Global Wind Report: Annual Market Update 2010 http://www.gwec.net/fileadmin/documents/Publications/Global_Wind_2007_report/GWEC%20Global%20Wind%20Report%202010%20low%20res.pdf

Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands: Policy studies: Renewable energy: National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) http://www.ecn.nl/units/ps/themes/renewable-energy/projects/nreap/

European Commission: Memo/11/54: Commission Communication on renewable energy http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/54&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

EurActiv, 15.3.11: Alarm bells ring over Europe's nuclear expansion http://www.euractiv.com/specialreport-wind-energy/alarm-bells-ring-europe-changing-nuclear-language-news-503115

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