What does it mean to have a secure, home-grown energy system? It cannot be manipulated for geopolitical purposes. That system must be based on renewable energy, and it must be able to be put into use quickly. The European Union (EU) has struggled with these and other energy-based variables, especially now that the war in Ukraine has been going on for almost a year. One bright spot has been solar power generation, and the EU has put forward some very ambitious plans to embrace increased solar power generation, including a clear policy line on how to get there.
Solar energy production has already made a real difference in the EU’s current energy crisis. Driven significantly by dramatically reduced fossil fuel imports following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, solar power generation increased by almost 50% in the EU this year. The 27 EU countries added 41.4 gigawatts (GW) of new solar cell (PV) capacity to their grids, an increase of 47% compared to 2021.
That is enough to power the equivalent of around 12.4 million homes.
The EU has increased its proposed 2030 renewable energy target to 45% – no small effort. This means more than a doubling of the share of renewable energy over the next 8 years and a tripling of the rate of deployment seen over the last decade. To turn these goals into reality – and in response to difficulties and the global energy market – the European Commission announced the REPowerEU plan.
The REPowerEU plan is supported by financial and legal measures to build the new energy infrastructure and system that Europe needs. Renewable energy is the cheapest and cleanest energy available and can be produced domestically in the EU, reducing the need for energy imports. REPowerEU will speed up the green transition and stimulate massive investments in renewable energy. It is clear that the EU must also enable industry and transport to replace fossil fuels more quickly in order to reduce emissions and dependencies.
An important element in this transition is the solar energy strategy. The intention is to bring over 320 GW of solar cells online by 2025 and almost 600 GW by 2030.
These actions will be supported by the recently launched EU Solar PV Industry Alliance as a way to seize industrial opportunities. The alliance will help to expand production capacity for more innovative, more efficient and more sustainable solar panels.
EU Market Outlook for Solar Power 2022-2026
These and other insights are provided in a new report generated by SolarPower Europe. This may interest you : Solar Power Helps Schools Make Ends. The introduction noted that “2022 was the year when solar energy showed its true potential for the very first time in the EU, driven by record energy prices and geopolitical tensions that greatly improved the business case.”
The authors of “European Market Outlook 2022 – 2026” are adamant that solar energy is essential for the EU’s energy independence. They say that the solar wave in the coming years “will be nothing short of seismic”. To make Europe ready for solar energy, 5 key areas have been highlighted.
Solar Production Scenarios
“Solar offers a lifeline in the midst of energy and climate crises,” SolarPower Europe CEO Walburga Hemetsberger said in a statement. “No other source of energy is growing as fast or reliably as solar energy. This may interest you : Solar power at self-service schools. We are building a secure, green, prosperous Europe on a foundation of solar energy.”
What do scenarios for solar energy production look like for the EU now and in the future?
Final Thoughts
The political context for the relocation of solar energy production to Europe changed dramatically in 2022, according to the “European Market Outlook 2022 – 2026”. There is now a strong political awareness of the need for clean-tech industrial strategies, the authors claim, so that later more open discussions will take place about Europe’s competition rules and state support policy.
The American Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was signed into law in August, has been the catalyst for this changed approach. The US IRA is the latest – “and probably the most impactful” – in a series of assertive industrial strategies for solar power generation spreading around the world, following developments in India, Turkey and China.
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What are 3 negatives about solar energy?
Solar Cons
- Standard home solar doesn’t “work” at night.
- Solar panels for the home are not attractive.
- DIY solar installation is difficult (if not impossible) for most homeowners.
- Not all roof configurations are ideal for maximum solar energy production.
- Solar cell production is not good for the environment.
What are 3 advantages and disadvantages of solar energy?
What is the main negative of solar energy? High initial cost of material and installation and long ROI (but with the reduction in the cost of solar in the last 10 years, solar is becoming more cost effective every day) Needs a lot of space as the efficiency is not 100% yet. No solar power at night so a large battery bank is needed.
Which country will use 100% renewable energy by 2050?
100% renewable electricity supply by 2050 – Germany has pledged to transform its electricity supply to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2050. Germany has pledged to transform its electricity supply to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2050.
Which country gets 99% of its energy from renewable energy? Costa Rica gets 99 percent of its energy from renewable sources.
Can the world run on 100% renewable energy? Without a doubt, renewable energy is the only energy system that is viable in the long term. Coal, petroleum and wood, which were the most important sources of energy, are not renewable resources. These resources are not long lasting.
Which country is almost 100% run on renewable energy?
Iceland is a country that runs on 100% renewable energy.
Are there any cities with 100% renewable energy? And with that, Burlington became the first city in the United States to run its electricity grid entirely from renewable energy. The city is proud of its achievement, but it doesn’t stop there.
Can Europe replace Russian gas?
Replacing 130 bcm of natural gas imports from Russia within a year will be a significant challenge, but as our rough estimates show, not impossible.
Can Germany replace Russian gas? Germany has decided to replace all Russian energy imports – especially natural gas – by mid-2024.
Will Europe be able to replace Russian gas? A crucial part of the EU’s plan to wean itself off Russian energy is to sharply increase purchases of liquefied natural gas from other producers. But the EU is not yet equipped to receive enough of the fuel to completely replace Russian gas.
Can Europe survive without Russian gas?
Even in a worst-case scenario, where there is no Russian gas in the pipeline and the destruction of low demand, BNEF estimates that Europe will still have enough gas to withstand the coldest winter in 30 years without depleting its stocks. Looking further ahead, the region can be well positioned for the winter of 2023-24 as well.
What happens if Russia stops gas to Europe? A complete shutdown, although not the base case, could increase European households’ energy costs by about 65% to around ⬬500 ($512) per month, according to estimates by Goldman Sachs Research. Industries such as chemicals and cement in Germany and Italy may have to cut gas consumption by as much as 80%.
Can Europe live without Russian oil?
Europe may be closer than ever to breaking its energy dependence on Moscow, but it still cannot live without one type of Russian natural gas.
Can the world live without Russian oil? But much of the increased production would require additional investment and much more time. As a result, a total loss of Russian oil exports would be very damaging to global GDP in the short/medium term. Much higher prices will lead to the destruction of demand (less economic activity) to rebalance the market.
How will Europe replace Russian natural gas?
The plan also includes support for industries to replace gas with hydrogen, biogas and biomethane to further reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
Where will Europe get gas if not from Russia? Other suppliers of gas (apart from Russia) to the EU are Norway (over 22% of imports in the first half of 2022) and Algeria (over 10% in the first half of 2022). LNG accounted for over 25% in the first half of 2022 – mainly from the US, Qatar and Nigeria.
Why is solar not more popular?
Essentially, the two biggest issues are cost and infrastructure. Fossil fuels are cheap, reliable and familiar because they have been around longer. Switching to solar can scare people because the upfront cost is often high, even though it’s lower than it’s ever been before.
Why are people not interested in solar energy? They think solar energy is too expensive. Sure, solar energy can be expensive upfront, but the ultimate savings make the investment worthwhile for homeowners. That’s why it’s so important to calculate the return on investment (ROI) for a prospect.