Published: Nov 28, 2011
Last modified: Nov 30, 2011
Offshore wind energy capacity in Europe
is projected to increase 17-fold between
2010 and 2020, while newer renewable technologies
such as concentrated solar power and wave/tidal
power will also
increase more than 11-fold according to
projections. European countries are also
expected to significantly boost solar photovoltaic
power, onshore wind and other renewable
technologies over the next decade.
This analysis is particularly
timely, coming as government representatives
gather to discuss climate change in Durban.
It illustrates the scale of Europe’s commitment
to transform its energy sector. However,
with a concerted effort we can and should
go even further to phase in renewable energy
sources. Burning fossil fuels threaten the
stability of our climate, and our most recent
analysis has shown that pollution from coal
and gas power plants is costing Europe many
billions of euros a year in health costs.
The projections are
based on European countries’ plans to install
renewable energy sources, which have been
analysed by the European Environment Agency
(EEA). The latest update shows the diversity
of approaches to meeting the EU’s collective
target of 20 % of energy from renewable
sources by 2020. According to the latest
figures, 11.7 % of energy used in the EU
came from renewable sources in 2009.
“This analysis is particularly
timely, coming as government representatives
gather to discuss climate change in Durban.
It illustrates the scale of Europe’s commitment
to transform its energy sector,” Jacqueline
McGlade, EEA Executive Director, said. “However,
with a concerted effort we can and should
go even further to phase in renewable energy
sources. Burning fossil fuels threaten the
stability of our climate, and our most recent
analysis has shown that pollution from coal
and gas power plants is costing Europe many
billions of euros a year in health costs.”
European Union Member
States have individual targets, and must
submit National Renewable Energy Action
Plans (NREAPs) to the European Commission
outlining how they expect to meet their
2020 renewable target, including the technology
mix they intend to use and the trajectory
they will follow.
Key growth projections
between 2010 and 2020 include:
Offshore wind is projected to grow the most
rapidly, with installed capacity multiplying
17 times over ten years.
Onshore wind and biomass electricity installed
capacity to double, with solar photovoltaic
capacity to triple over the same period.
A greater part of Europe’s electricity will
come from the sea, as wave and tidal energy
are projected to increase 11-fold.
The electricity-generating capacity of concentrated
solar power will increase 11-fold.
Heat pump output will triple while geothermal
heat and solar thermal output will approximately
quadruple.
Despite these growth
rates, the 2020 targets will be met by just
a narrow margin according to the projections,
highlighting the challenge facing Europe
as it aims to reduce its dependency on fossil
fuels.
Approximately 43 % of
all renewable energy production is planned
for heating and cooling, with biomass accounting
for 80 % renewable heating and cooling output.
Transport will make up the smallest proportion
of renewable energy consumption (12 %),
but is expected to be the fastest growing
element between 2005 and 2020.
The update to the database
comes a year after EU Member States submitted
information describing how they would meet
their targets in 2020. The accompanying
report has also been updated, with the latest
information for 20 Member States, additional
data on biomass and data on land use for
energy crops.
+ More
Cutting noise with quiet
asphalt and traffic lane management
Published: Nov 08, 2011
Last modified: Nov 28, 2011
Noise pollution affects many Europeans,
and for some, it is not only a nuisance
- it can also trigger serious disease. Tuesday
evening, at a prestigious ceremony in London,
the European Environment Agency (EEA) and
the Noise Abatement Society (NAS) presented
the European Soundscape Award for the first
time to raise awareness and recognise initiatives
that help reduce noise levels. The winner
was a Dutch project which was commended
for its integrated traffic noise reduction
scheme.
Across Europe, at least
100 million people are exposed to damaging
levels of noise just from road traffic.
Exposure to unwanted noise can cause stress
and interfere with sleep, rest and study.
Moreover, prolonged exposure can also trigger
serious illness such as hypertension and
heart disease.
The EEA and NAS have
teamed up to raise awareness about the impacts
of noise and to reward European initiatives
in the field of noise control or soundscape
management. Organisers encouraged any product,
campaign, innovation or scheme offering
a creative solution to the problem of noise
to submit an application for the new European
Soundscape Award. The EEA and NAS received
16 entries from 12 countries, covering a
wide range of noise-related topics.
The winner of the European Soundscape Award
2011
The Dutch province of
Gelderland and the municipality of Wijchen
won the European Soundscape Award 2011 for
their sustainable and integrated traffic
noise reduction solution in the village
of Alverna. The winning project has combined
a range of innovative measures to reduce
noise levels. The measures consist of:
Moving and reducing the number of traffic
lanes
Sinking the road by 0.5m
Constructing low-level sound barriers of
1m on each side of the road
Using special ‘quiet’ asphalt
Reducing the speed limit from 80 to 50 km/h
in Alverna
These measures meant
planners were able to achieve the same effect
as installing the usual unattractive, 4m-high
noise barriers.The project also includes
a tree planting scheme to create attractive
pedestrianised areas. In addition to the
noise reduction benefits, the full package
of measures also increases road safety,
reduces fuel use, helps improve air quality
and quality of life in the village.
