According to the European Environmental Agency (EEA), countries within the EU are well on their way to meeting their 2020 renewable energy targets.
The 2020 energy target calls for 20 per cent of gross final energy consumption to come from renewable sources, with the number rising from 16 per cent in 2014 to 16.4 per cent in 2015.
Hans Bruyninckx, the EEA executive director said that, “the EU’s 2020 targets on energy and climate are now well within reach.”
Despite this, he also stated that certain trends, such as transport, were “alarming” in that the renewable energy use in that sector remains insufficient.
Research found that greenhouse gases did rise slightly in 2015, although the increase only came after an “exceptionally” warm winter the year before.
Data also showed that the EU was also nearing its target of reducing energy consumption by 13 per cent compared to 2005 levels, with consumption being 11 per cent lower than 2015 consumption.
After 2020, the EU has a series of targets that it must meet, with renewable energy accounting for 27 per cent of energy use by 2030, and emissions down by 80 per cent by 2050.
Only one state was found not to be on track for the 2020 target, with Malta being the only country that is not on track to meet directives.
The report states that a “lack of ambition with regards to reducing or limiting energy consumption” is the cause of the country not being on target to meeting energy efficiency targets, renewable energy targets, as well as greenhouse gas emissions targets.
Despite this, the data published in the report is from 2014 figures, and speaking to The Malta Independent, a spokesperson claimed that the country has made “significant” steps since then and offers a realistic approach to reaching 2020 targets.
In November, it was announced that half of the electricity in the UK came from low carbon sources for nearly six days over the last quarter, with electricity being coal-free for that period.
Between July and September low-emission energy sources peaked at 50.2 per cent according to energy company, Drax.
