A new report from the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) indicates that renewable energy capacity in Europe has surged in the last year in spite of the economic conditions and uncertain policy environment.
In 2011 a record 71 per cent of all new power generating capacity installed in the EU was renewable. Gas-fired installations have also grown, while fuel oil and nuclear generating capacity fell.
EWEA has called on policymakers to maintain a stable investment environment in order to maintain levels of growth. “It is critical to send positive signals to investors by European governments maintaining stable policies to support renewables and for the European Union to commit to put in place a binding renewable energy target for 2030,” said Justin Wilkes, Policy Director of EWEA.
A total of 32 GW of renewable energy capacity was added in 2011, a rise over the 23 GW installed in 2010. Much of the growth has come from the solar sector.
Some 9616 MW of new wind power capacity was added in 2011, says EWEA, just shy of the 9648 MW added in 2010. New wind installations accounted for 21.4 per cent of new power capacity added in 2011.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) installations grew strongly in 2011, with Italy becoming the world’s largest solar PV market for the first time. Subsidy rule changes in Italy as well as other countries led to a rush of installations towards the end of the year.
In the wind sector, growth in onshore installations in Germany and Sweden, and offshore in the UK – together with continuing strong performances from some emerging onshore markets such as Romania – offset a fall in installations in mature markets such as France and Spain. Overall, Germany remains the EU country with the largest installed capacity of wind, followed by Spain, France, Italy and the UK.
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