European responses to COVID-19 accelerate energy transition
Published by Jessica Casey,
Editor
World Coal,
Coal based power generation has fallen by over a quarter (25.5%) across the EU and UK in the first three months of 2020, compared to 2019, as a result of the response to COVID-19, with renewable energy reaching a 43% share, according to new analysis by Wärtsilä.
The impact is even more stark in the last month, with coal generation collapsing by almost one third (29%) between 10 March and 10 April 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, making up only 12% of total EU and UK generation. By contrast, renewables delivered almost half (46%) of generation – an increase of 8% compared to 2019.
In total, demand for electricity across the continent is down by one tenth (10%) due to measures taken to combat COVID-19, to its lowest level since the Second World War. The result is an unprecedented fall in carbon emissions from the power sector, with emission intensity falling by almost 20% (19.5%) compared to the same 10 March to 10 April period last year.
The analysis comes from the 'Wärtsilä Energy Transition Lab', a new free-to-use data platform developed by Wärtsilä to help the industry, policy makers and the public understand the impact of COVID-19 on European electricity markets and analyse what this means for the future design and operation of its energy systems. The goal is to help accelerate the transition to 100% renewables.
Björn Ullbro, Vice President for Europe & Africa at Wärtsilä Energy Business, said: “The impact of the Covid-19 crisis on European energy systems is extraordinary. “What we can see today is how our energy systems cope with much more renewable power – knowledge that will be invaluable to accelerate the energy transition. We are making this new platform freely available to support the energy industry to adapt and use the momentum this tragic crisis has created to deliver a better, cleaner energy system, faster.”
The figures mark a dramatic shift in Europe’s energy mix – one that was not anticipated to occur until the end of the decade. The impact of the COVID-19 crisis has effectively accelerated the energy transition in the short-term, providing a unique opportunity to see how energy systems function with far higher levels of renewables.
Ullbro added: “Electricity demand across Europe has fallen due to the lockdown measures applied by governments to stop the spread of the coronavirus. However, total renewable generation has remained at pre-crisis levels with low electricity prices, combined with renewables-friendly policy measures, squeezing out fossil fuel power generation, especially coal. This sets the scene for the next decade of the energy transition.”
These Europe-wide impacts are mirrored at a national level, for example:
In the UK, renewables now have a 43% share of generation (up 10% on the same 10 March to 10 April period in 2019) with coal power down 35% and gas down 24%.
Germany has seen the share of renewables reach 60% (up 12%) and coal generation fall 44%, resulting in a fall in the carbon intensity of its electricity of over 30%.
Spain currently has 49% renewables with coal power down by 41%.
Italy has seen the steepest fall in demand, down 21% so far.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/power/17042020/european-responses-to-covid-19-accelerate-energy-transition/
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