Renewables have helped save 7% of European GHG emissions since 2005

According to a new study by the European Environment Agency (EEA), renewable power technologies have helped reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since 2005: between 2005 and 2012, GHG emissions could have been 7% higher than their actual level. Renewables also contributed to improve the energy security of EU members: without the additional use of renewables since 2005, fossil fuel consumption would have been 7% higher. Gas consumption would have been 7% higher, while coal consumption (most substituted fuel) would have been 13% higher.

In 2013, final consumption of renewables increased in all EU countries, reaching a share of 15% of final consumption (above the 12% target set by the Renewable Energy Directive). In some countries (Austria, Finland, Latvia and Sweden), renewables accounted for more than 1/3 of final energy consumption, while they accounted for less than 5% in Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.