Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 5 Sectoral and overall growth of renewable energies in the EU (Eurostat)
Source
Renewable
Energy Progress Report COM [
27
], p. 175 nal. 27 March 2013
power generation amounting to almost 500 TWh in 2020. However, estimates
based on current trends indicate that there is a risk that wind power may only reach
around half the capacity planned, at 253 TWh.
For biomass in general the trend is also negative, although less so than in the
case of wind power.
As regards solar photovoltaic energy, the situation and the expectations are very
different, as the scheduled targets have been exceeded at practically every stage in
the period. The strong growth in recent years has created a surplus that will continue
for quite some time. The EU
An optimistic and
secure EU market helped lead to a build-up of global PV production capacity, as
China, India and the US entered into a new, EU-triggered global PV market. The
resulting overcapacity has brought production costs down signi
'
s verdict in the report is very clear:
“
cantly. However
rigid national support schemes were generally unable to adapt rapidly enough to
such falling costs, raising pro
ts and creating a rate and scale of installations in some
countries almost excessive in a time of general economic crisis (Figs.
6
,
7
).
19
As stated previously, to gain an understanding of the differences in the stages of
implementation of the various renewable technologies it is useful to analyse the
levels of support received by each one. The table below (taken from the CEER
report) shows how solar photovoltaic energy has received levels of support far in
excess of other technologies. Moreover, bearing in mind that in most cases that
support has been provided in tariffs that guarantee the tariff for the installation over
very lengthy periods, it is easy to understand why there has been a disproportionate
response (or
”
) surrounding the roll-out of this technology in countries such
as Spain, Italy and Germany (Table
3
).
An analysis of the supporting frameworks for renewable energies leads to very
interesting conclusions on the basis of experience in Europe, with various success
stories and failed initiatives.
“
bubble
”
19
COM (2013), p. 175
nal.
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