Renewable energy sources accounted for 7.8% of Ireland’s energy consumption in 2013, according to The European Commission progress report on 2020 renewable energy targets
According to the report, Ireland has met its interim target of 7% of renewables in 2013/2014. Ireland has committed to reaching a renewables target of 16% of energy consumption by 2020.
15.3% of overall EU energy use came from renewables in 2014, an increase from 14.3% in 2012. The report shows that the EU is on track to meet its 20% renewable energy targets. The EU and the vast majority of Member States are advancing well: 25 Member States are expected to meet their 2013/2014 national targets.
“The report shows once again that Europe is good at renewables, and that renewables are good for Europe. We have 3 times more renewable power per capita in Europe than anywhere else in the rest of the world. We have more than 1 million people working in the renewable energy sector worth over 130bn euros a year. We export 35 billion euros worth of renewables every year,” said Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy.
With a projected share of 5.7% renewable energy in transport in 2014, achieving the 10% target is challenging but remains feasible, with good progress in some Member States.
25 Member States are expected to meet their 2013/2014 renewable energy national targets. 26 Member States met their 2011/2012 targets.
The renewable energy Directive is working
The report shows that the renewable energy Directive is working: the deployment of renewable energy resulted in
- around 326 Mt of gross avoided CO2 emissions in 2012 and 388 Mt in 2013,
- and a reduction in the EU demand of fossil fuels of 116 Mtoe in 2013.
Furthermore, for the EU’s security of energy supply:
- the renewable energy substitution of natural gas made up 30% of all avoided fossil fuel use in 2013
- and almost half of Member States reduced their gross inland consumption of natural gas by at least 7%.
Moreover, renewable energy is becoming a widely accepted, mainstream source of energy with the 2020 targets being a key driver for European-led global investment in renewables and supportive energy policies far beyond Europe’s borders, the report finds.