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Renewable energy taking over in European regions

100 % RENEWABLE ENERGY IS ALREADY REALITY World Future Council,  8 Oct 12, Anna Leidreiter Europe is showing the world that we can move to a sustainable energy future based on cost-effective, clean and stable supplies. Renewable energies (RE) accounted for more than 71% of total electric capacity additions in 2011, bringing renewable energy’s share of total electric capacity to 31.1%. A number of European cities, regions and countries have committed to and even already achieved 100% renewable energy-sourced electricity, heating, and transport.

A network of 100% RE regions in Germany has 74 regions and municipalities that have already reached 100% renewable energy. One of these is Jühnde, the first bioenergy village in Germany. Through its 712kW biogas plant Jühnde produces twice the amount of electricity demanded by the local area and provides heat for 70% of the inhabitants through the co-operative, with 80% of the revenue remaining in the region. The initiative began with a public meeting in 2001 and citizen participation continues to be emphasised.

The municipality of Skellefteå, Sweden, is another good example of ambitious RE targets being set and met through community-owned power. Skellefteå Kraft is Sweden’s fifth largest electricity producer and 100% municipality-owned. The company, therefore, has a social mandate over and above its commercial pursuits. With renewables accounting for nearly 90% of its energy production it is in a good position to contribute to reaching the national targets of 50% share of renewable energy in the energy mix and 10% in transport by 2020, targets that will increase to 100% by 2050 and 2030, respectively.

This is reality not only in small towns: Denmark makes the case that 100% RE targets are set and can be met at a national level in one of the world’s wealthiest countries. As with Germany’s approach to achieving the 100% renewable energy target, the Danish experience has been one of bottom-up, participatory community power. On the Thy peninsula, where the World Future Council‘s workshop on 100% Renewable Energy in European Regions is taking place this wekeend at the Folkecenter, renewable energy – the bulk of which coming from wind – account for 100% of electricity consumption and 85% of space heating. The ‘Fossil-Free Thy’ project initiated by the Folkecenter aims to reach 100% renewable energy heating in the region in several years, and Thy is but one European example already demonstrating the feasibility of a fully renewable energy supply….. http://power-to-the-people.net/2012/10/100-renewable-energy-is-already-reality/

October 8, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | EUROPE, renewable