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eU: electricity SUpply
70 Renewable Energy Sources in Figures
Since the EU Electricity Directive came into force in 2001, the installed capacity available
for generating electricity from renewable sources has increased by 6.6 % p.a., from 128 GW
(2001) to 201 GW in 2008. At 57 %, hydropower has the largest share of the renewables portfolio
in 2008, but over the period under consideration its average growth of 0.3 % was very
small. With a capacity increase of 47.2 GW, wind energy has made a major contribution to
the expansion of renewables-based electricity generation capacity. This technology grew at
an average rate of 20.8 % per annum. The rapid expansion of the photovoltaic sector in the
EU is documented by an annual growth rate of 65.2 %. In 2008 alone the installed capacity
virtually doubled. The various technologies for biomass utilisation also showed considerable
expansion, with biogas averaging 15.6 % per annum, and similar levels of 13.2 % for solid
bio mass and 13.3 % for biogenic waste.
Another renewable energy technology, namely solar thermal power plants, could also make
an appreciable contribution in the years ahead. According to Observ’ER, at the end of 2010
installations with a capacity totalling 638.4 MW el were in operation in the EU. Most of this solar
thermal capacity (632.4 MW el ) is located in Spain. Further installations with an additional
total capacity of 998 MW el are currently being erected in Spain [142].
Installed capacity using renewable energy technologies in the EU for the years 2001
and 2008, and average annual growth rates
Hydropower capacity roughly corresponds to the installed capacity of all the other re technologies combined. However, because
the average growth rate of hydropower during the period in question was just 0.4 %, it is not included in the chart. Data on solar
thermal power plants is not given as the installed capacity is very small.
Sources: ZSw [1] after eurostat [98]