Electricity consumption in Europe dropped by 2% (minus 56 TWh), returning to demand from 2015 levels. This is happening at a GDP growth of 1.4% in 2019. This is clear from the traditional report of the European Union`s electricity companies Energiewende (Germany) and Sandbag (UK). The report was drawn up before leaving the UK for the European Union.
Bulgaria`s lignite electricity production is declining, according to the report. From the graphs to the report, it is clear that compare with 2018, lignite electricity production fell down by 1% in 2019, hydroelectric power production decreased by 2%, but imports increased by 1%. There was also a decrease in electricity consumption by 1 percent, in production by 2%, but also in CO2 – by 2%. The electricity production for the EU countries (EU 28) is estimated at 3222 TWh. Electricity consumption in Europe has fallen by 2 percent or minus 56 TWh, returning to the level of 2015. This occurs with GDP growth of 1.4% in 2019. According to the report, a decline is reported in almost every country, which is due to the mild winter. Germany has seen the largest decline of 3.3%.
The share of renewable energy sources (RES) in electricity production reached a record 34.6%. Solar and wind combined account for nearly 18% of electricity (569 TWh). For the first time, electricity production and wind power have in fact exceeded coal production. In just one year, coal-based electricity production in the European Union has fallen by 24% and in 2019 was less than half the 2007 level. The decline in lignite-based production decreased by 16% or minus 49 TWh – mainly in Germany, where a decrease of 32 TWh was reported and Poland – minus 7 TWh. As a result, carbon emissions (CO2) in Europe`s energy sector have fallen by 12% in 2019. This is the biggest drop since 1990. Half of the coal capacity was replaced by wind and solar power and the other half by natural gas. The share of wind and solar power has increased thanks to the construction of new facilities. It is estimated that in 2019 wind power increased by about 14 GW, which is the second largest increase in all history, and in terms of solar energy by about 17 GW, twice the data from last year.
In addition, the economy continues to change in favor of renewable energy. Looking to the future, European wind and solar associations are forecasting accelerated rates as new facilities are built. We remind, that the decarbonisation of the energy sector is the EU’s final target. The report notes that the European energy transition is beginning. The European Green Deal puts the fight against the climate crisis in the overall policy of the European Union over the next five years, the report also said, hoping that this policy would deliver on the 50% greenhouse gas target in Europe in 2030.
The report is available at:
Source: Ember-Climate