Renewable Energy In The EU: Solar PV Leads Gains In Output, Turnover, & Employment
The solar photovoltaic sector led gains in renewable energy production, revenue, and employment across the EU’s 27 member states in 2011, according to latest data.
europe renewable energy
EU Offshore Wind Having Best Year Ever, but Turbine Orders Slowing
Battling severe economic headwinds, Europe’s wind industry has picked up the pace and substantially increased offshore projects developed in the region. According to the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), developers connected 132 turbines to the grid in the first half of this year. Those turbines, which have the cumulative … [continued]
40th World Environment Day: Denmark, Scotland Pave the Way to the Green Economy
Substantial headway in forging a green economy has been made across Europe. While the success of efforts in Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Czech Republic are all noteworthy, Denmark and Scotland stand out when it comes to reducing the environmental impact of our economic activities, whether they originate on the production or consumption side of the ledger. […]
70% of New EU Power from Renewable Energy in 2011 (47% Solar, 21% Wind)
In total, wind and solar power were responsible for 68% of new EU power installations in 2011 and renewable power as a whole was responsible for about 70%. Over 30,000 MW of the 44,939 MW of new power capacity came from wind and solar—that’s a 37.7% increase over 2010 and sets a new record for the EU.
UK Groups Push for the Grassroots Solar & Wind Energy Route
Solar power is blowing up. And that’s expected to continue for many years into the future. While I’m all for solar power expansion of any sort, like the majority (or even over 90%) of people are, I (like most) prefer to see the myriad benefits of solar going to … [continued]
Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race?
I spend much of my time studying carbon pollution trends, analyzing growing evidence of global warming, and assessing the impacts of a warmer climate. Thus, I recently found myself in agreement with scientists when they moved the symbolic doomsday clock closer to midnight (planetary catastrophe) in part because of global inaction on climate change. At the same time, I remain optimistic about our collective ability to face the crisis. Why? Because even as we’re racing against time to combat climate change, we’re also moving forward in the clean energy race.
Renewable Energy in Germany Going to Get a Boost from Wind Energy Superhighway
I was in Germany a little more than a week ago and can tell you from what I saw that Germany (or, at least, Northeast Germany) is a wind turbine paradise. Wind turbines are everywhere it seems (between cities that is).
Germany is the clear wind power leader in Europe with 27,214 MW of installed wind power capacity. (Spain is second with 20,676 MW installed.)
But, even in Germany, wind power could benefit from a better transmission network. Of course, German leaders recognize that and are doing something about it — they are planning to build a wind energy superhighway.
Poland Announces Renewable Energy Targets
I don’t hear about Poland much when it comes to renewable energy, despite living here. When I do hear about it, it is often in a negative respect — Poland relies heavily on coal and is probably the largest opponent in the EU to raising EU-wide renewable energy targets.
The Polish government announced its renewable energy goals for this year, up to 2015, and up to 2019 on Tuesday and, considering it’s rather important role in the EU, I thought I’d share those with you (with a bit of commentary, of course).
