Renewable vitality sources accounted for 44 p.c of total electrical energy manufacturing within the European Union final yr, growing from 38 p.c in 2022 and overtaking fossil fuels for the primary time, the European Fee has reported.
Fossil fuels produced 31 p.c of EU energy final yr, down from 39 p.c in 2022. Nuclear vitality accounted for 25 p.c of final yr’s era, in accordance with the Fee’s quarterly electrical energy market report.
Photo voltaic era rose 19 p.c year-on-year to 196 terawatt hours (tWh). Hydropower output surged 17 p.c to 338 tWh. Onshore wind era logged a 14 p.c improve to 401 tWh whereas offshore era climbed 10 p.c to 52 tWh.
- Advertisement -
“A brand new document of put in renewable capability was reached within the EU in 2023, with added photo voltaic and wind capability having elevated by 14 p.c on a yearly foundation (from 320 TW in 2022, to 365 TW in 2023)”, the Fee mentioned in a press release for the discharge of the electrical energy and gasoline market reviews. “Photo voltaic put in capability rose by 22 p.c, whereas onshore and offshore wind grew by 8 p.c and 11 p.c, respectively”.
For fossil fuels, coal-run era fell 30 p.c year-over-year to 144 tWh, whereas pure gas-fired era declined 20 p.c to 356 tWh. Oil-fueled era dropped 17 p.c to 14 tWh.
In the meantime nuclear era, which accounted for 25 p.c of total energy era within the EU final yr, elevated two p.c to 589 tWh.
“The autumn in fossil gasoline era was supported by decrease demand and sustained renewables era”, the assertion mentioned.
The EU Renewable Power Directive adopted final yr has set a binding goal for the share of renewables within the total regional vitality combine to be 42.5 p.c by 2030, up from the earlier 32 p.c goal.
General energy consumption within the 27-member bloc final yr fell three p.c to 2,391 tWh in comparison with 2022.
Wholesale electrical energy costs within the EU in 2023 plunged 58 p.c to EUR 89 ($95.6) per megawatt hour (mWh), whereas retail costs fell 11 p.c to EUR 302 ($324.3) per mWh.
In the meantime, the Fee’s separate quarterly pure gasoline market report confirmed that gasoline consumption fell seven p.c year-on-year.
“Linked to this, total imports of Russian gasoline dropped to 43 billion cubic meters (bcm), relative to 79 bcm in 2022 and 150 bcm in 2021”, the assertion mentioned. The decline in Russian gasoline imports was 71 p.c in opposition to 2022.
General EU pure gasoline imports fell 13 p.c year-on-year to 290 billion cubic meters (10.2 trillion cubic ft). America remained the EU’s fundamental supply of liquefied pure gasoline accounting for 46 p.c, adopted by Russia at 15 p.c and Qatar at 13 p.c. Pipeline imports got here principally from Norway at 49 p.c, adopted by North Africa at 19 p.c and Russia at 15 p.c.
Fuel produced within the EU accounted for 11 p.c of its gasoline consumption. Final yr’s output totaled 38 Bcm (1.3 Tcf), down 20 p.c year-on-year.
Wholesale gasoline costs within the EU final yr fell 67 p.c to EUR 41 ($44) per mWh in comparison with 2022, returning to historic ranges. “In This autumn 2023, wholesale costs peaked at 55 €/MWh in mid-October earlier than declining in November and December to achieve 30 €/MWh on the final buying and selling day of the yr”, the assertion mentioned. The common within the fourth quarter was EUR 41 per mWh, up 24 quarter-on-quarter however down 57 p.c year-on-year.
Retail gasoline costs fell 17 p.c to EUR 116 ($124.6) per mWh. “The decline in gasoline retail costs for family shoppers stopped and costs began to rise within the 4th quarter of 2023”, the gasoline market report detailed. “The quarterly common retail worth was 110 €/MWh, 2 p.c increased than within the third quarter and 31 p.c decrease year-on-year … The vitality part constituted 56 p.c of the value, whereas community prices amounted to twenty p.c, vitality taxes 9 p.c and worth added tax 15 p.c, as EU common”.
The decline in costs was helped by record-high gasoline storage ranges within the EU. The common filling charge was 30 p.c increased than 2022. Within the fourth quarter, filling charges averaged 95 p.c.
To contact the creator, electronic mail jov.onsat@rigzone.com
