Renewables share in EU electricity climbs to 37% in 2020

January 26 (Renewables Now) - The share of renewables in EU gross electricity consumption increased to 37% in 2020 from 34% in 2019, Eurostat said on Wednesday.

Renewable electricity generation in the EU was led by wind and hydropower sources, which accounted for 36% and 33%, respectively. Solar provided 14%, showing rapid growth from only 1% in 2008. Solid biofuels accounted for 8% and another 8% came from other renewable sources.

The EU countries sourcing the biggest part of their electricity consumption from renewables in 2020 were Austria with 78% and Sweden with 75%. They are followed by Denmark with 65%, Portugal with 58%, and Croatia and Latvia both with 53%.

The share of renewable electricity was 15% or below in Czechia, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Hungary and Malta.

The EU statistics office last week said that the EU increased the share of renewables in gross final energy consumption to 22% in 2020, beating its target for the year by two percentage points.