EU-2050: Only with wind power and hydrogen for a 100% renewable future!

EU-2050: Only with wind power and hydrogen for a 100% renewable future!

The energy transition in the European Union is making progress, but falls short of the desired goals. Loud Eco News The EU increased its share of renewable energy from around 10% in 2004 to around 25% in 2024. However, a recent forecast suggests that at the same pace, it could take until 2124 for the EU to fully transition to 100% renewable energy. This means that the target of 75% renewable energy would only increase by 15% in another 100 years.

The energy transition is seen as a significant economic and political opportunity to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear resources. While some European governments are slowing progress, there are still positive examples and initiatives that are successfully exploiting the potential of renewable energy.

Renewable energies in European comparison

Recent developments show that installed capacity in Europe reached 285 gigawatts at the end of 2024, with 248 gigawatts of this installed on land. Particularly significant is the newly commissioned capacity of 16.4 gigawatts in 2024, bringing the EU to a total of 231 gigawatts. Germany leads in wind energy output with 73 gigawatts, followed by Great Britain and Spain, each providing around 32 gigawatts. Denmark has the highest share of wind energy in the electricity mix, with an impressive 56%.

However, responsibility for energy production is distributed unevenly. Norway, Sweden, Austria and Switzerland are leaders in the use of hydropower, while Portugal has high shares of hydropower and wind power. In contrast, EU-wide wind energy production has now reached 19%, making it the second largest source of energy after nuclear energy Energy future reported.

Storage solutions and challenges

Energy storage continues to be important for the future development of renewable energies. Currently, 63% of installed storage capacity in Europe is used in private households, while 27% is in large-scale grid-connected storage and 10% is in commercial storage. Forecasts show that growth rates of 30-40% can be expected in the battery storage market.

Renewable energy will account for 47% of the EU's electricity mix as early as 2024, a record high. The mix consists of 29% wind and solar power, 13% hydropower and 5.6% bioenergy. Despite these successes, there are challenges. These include market rules, government support, negative price trends, limited network access and inadequate digitalization, all of which threaten the expansion of renewable energies.

Another pressing issue in the industry is the need for green hydrogen, which has so far been considered in short supply. In 2023, less than 10% of the planned projects were realized. To realize all hydrogen projects by 2030, support of one trillion US dollars is estimated. The recommendation is to specifically promote green hydrogen in sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as aviation, steel and chemicals.

The next few years promise both challenges and opportunities for renewables. Progress depends largely on political support and the adjustment of market structures.