Wind and solar power for electricity generation: significant action needed if EU targets to be met

Summary:

In recent years, electricity generation from wind and solar photovoltaic power has seen impressive growth. Meanwhile, the cost of producing electricity from the wind and sun has become increasingly competitive with the cost of electricity from burning fossil fuels. For this report, we assessed the progress made by the EU and the Member States towards the 2020 renewables targets and examined the effectiveness of their measures to that end. We found that significant progress, beginning in 2005, was followed by a deceleration in both sectors after 2014. For half of the EU Member States, meeting the 2020 targets will be a significant challenge. We address a number of recommendations to the Commission to help Member States support further deployment — by organising auctions, promoting citizen participation and improving the conditions for deployment, including resolving grid insufficiencies.

• Alternative Source 1
• Alternative Source 2