Wind and solar power are on the rise in Europe

[Alfonso Maruccia]

Something to look forward to: In 2022, the European continent suffered one of its most difficult energy crises ever. A real turning point which, in spite of everything, provided a real boon for the adoption of renewable energy solutions.

The past year saw a remarkable increase in wind and solar power adoption in the European Union. A new report from Ember, a UK-based energy think tank that uses "data-driven insights" to promote a shift from coal to clean electricity, says that the EU successfully overcame the energy crisis triggered by Vladimir Putin's invasion war against Ukraine.

In 2022, Ember's report states, energy generation from wind and solar plants amounted to 22% of Europe's overall electricity bill. For the first time in the Old Continent's history, renewable sources were able to surpass natural gas, which was one of the main reasons for the unprecedented quarrel between Europe and Russia.

After the Ukraine invasion, the EU and other Western countries tried to put significant economic pressure on the Kremlin by implementing incrementally harsher sanctions against Russia. Moscow's authorities reacted by cutting supplies of natural gas to their major customer – I.e., Europe – which in turn set off a significant acceleration in energy transition to renewable sources.

According to Ember's report, solar generation rose by a record 39 TWh (or +24%) in 2022, with a 47% increase in solar panel installations equal to 41 GW. Twenty EU countries achieved their "highest ever share of solar electricity," Ember says, with the Netherlands as the leader in solar transition.

Fears about a wider reactivation of coal consumption to make up for Russian gas turned out to be unfounded, as coal plants just saw a +18% average utilization in the last quarter of the year. Of the 26 plants that were brought back online, 9 saw zero utilization. All in all, coal power generation grew by 7% in 2022.

According to Dave Jones, Ember's Head of Data Insights, Europe "has avoided the worst of the energy crisis." The shocks experienced in 2022 caused just "a minor ripple" in coal power reactivation and a huge wave of support for renewable sources. Fears of a coal rebound are now "dead," Jones said, and Europe's plan for transition to clear power generation is in full swing.

As for nuclear plants, in 2022 they provided the same amount of power as wind and solar sources – 22%. Nuclear power in Europe is mostly coming from France these days, but Ember isn't predicting a significant utilization increase for this year.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/97483-wind-solar-power-rise-europe.html

 

[Endymio]

Germany's focus on wind and solar took it from the lowest electricity prices in Europe to one of the highest. It also *increased* their carbon emissions, as every wind and solar farm requires an associated natural-gas plant, to fill in when the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine. And Germany and the UK both recently announced they are reopening coal mines and power plants, to cover for energy shortfalls.

 

[VoidTheWarranty]

Great for the environment and great that an Eastern terrorist state can't target your reactors.

 

[Endymio]

great that an Eastern terrorist state can't target your reactors.

What do you think that "terrorist state" is going to do? The containment sarcophagus of a reactor is immune to anything but a direct nuclear strike by a boosted-fission or larger warhead -- and if the terrorists already have nukes this sophisticated, you have larger problems than a leaky reactor.

 

[neeyik]

Germany's focus on wind and solar took it from the lowest electricity prices in Europe to one of the highest. It also *increased* their carbon emissions, as every wind and solar farm requires an associated natural-gas plant, to fill in when the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine. And Germany and the UK both recently announced they are reopening coal mines and power plants, to cover for energy shortfalls.

The only new coal mine that's being made in the UK is to produce coke for steel manufacturing, not to fuel a power plant. As for new power stations, they're either nuclear or wind -- what few remaining coal stations there are in the UK, were told to not run down their fuel stocks and commence decommissioning to counter the expected shortfall in natural gas supply during the winter; there are no plans to keep them permanently open nor extend the facilities in any way. Where demand exceeds generation, the difference is met by buying more from other countries.

 

[Endymio]

The only new coal mine that's being made in the UK is to produce coke for steel manufacturing, not to fuel a power plant. As for new power stations, they're either nuclear or wind..

UK fires up coal power plant. 7 September 2021 -- Warm, still, autumn weather has meant wind farms have not generated as much power as normal, while soaring prices have made it too costly to rely on gas. As a result, National Grid ESO confirmed coal was providing 3% of national power. It said it asked EDF to fire up West Burton A...

And

Jun 1, 2022: Britain could keep coal-fired power plants open this winter... some coal plants slated for closure this year may need to stay open to provide electricity

And:

Jan 30, 2023: "Coal power's share of EU electricity generation rose by 1.5 percentage points in 2022, to account for 16% of annual generation, think-tank Ember said in a report..."

But your primary point is correct: the UK isn't building *new* coal plants. Still, wind and solar account for about 1/5 of the UK's energy. That's near the tipping point. To get to Germany's 30%+ level, one must do what Germany does: essentially use its less-green neighbors as gigantic batteries, exporting excess electricity through the grid when demand is low, and importing it when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow.

 

[neeyik]

UK fires up coal power plant. 7 September 2021 -- Warm, still, autumn weather has meant wind farms have not generated as much power as normal, while soaring prices have made it too costly to rely on gas. As a result, National Grid ESO confirmed coal was providing 3% of national power. It said it asked EDF to fire up West Burton A...

And

Jun 1, 2022: Britain could keep coal-fired power plants open this winter... some coal plants slated for closure this year may need to stay open to provide electricity

West Burton A wasn't fired up from a decommissioned status, though. It was still operating as normal for all of the remaining coal stations in the UK: on standby to meet shortfalls when EDF's nuclear stations are refueling, when burning coal is cheaper than burning gas, or when external supplies can't meet demand/too expensive.

Its planned shutdown for decommissioning was for September of last year, but due to concerns that there would be a shortage in gas supply over this winter, EDF agreed to postpone the project until March of this year.

Given that there are only three coal power stations in the whole UK, it's hardly a seismic event that they've been kept open over the winter. Natural gas is used heavily in that country to heat water and cook food, as well as fuel power stations, and there were concerns over supply issues impacting domestic and industrial demand. Hence why the coal stations were kept running a little longer -- at best, they can contribute 4.5GW to the total demand but on average, for the past few years, it's been a tenth of that.

Once the new nuclear plants have been finished, their output will offset any need for the coal plants to remain operating.

Jan 30, 2023: "Coal power's share of EU electricity generation rose by 1.5 percentage points in 2022, to account for 16% of annual generation, think-tank Ember said in a report..."

The UK left the EU in 2020, so this point isn't particularly relevant to a discussion about that country.

 

[Endymio]

Given that there are only three coal power stations in the whole UK, it's hardly a seismic event that they've been kept open

The seismic event was that the UK's electric grid, which had been entirely free of coal sources, lost that status. And while this new coal mine won't be used for electricity, it will be used for fuel. If not for it, that steel would be being produced with electric-powered furnaces.

And while wind and solar currently produce 20% of the UK's total, that figure is itself misleading. Any power engineer will tell you that not all MW-hrs are created equal. Renewables fill the "easy" generation, whereas the "hard" part of keeping the grid stable when supply and demand are seriously out of phase must be done by sources which can be quickly started and stopped, which generally means natural gas turbines. Without a quantum leap forward in energy storage capabilities (and costs), the UK will never break even 1/3 of total generation for these sources.

 

[neeyik]

The seismic event was that the UK's electric grid, which had been entirely free of coal sources, lost that status.

Almost -- it's been very low for a good while now (source, page 30), and occasionally it's hit zero when there's been sufficient supply from wind, but the UK electricity grid hasn't yet been entirely free of coal. It's not far off, though.

And while wind and solar currently produce 20% of the UK's total, that figure is itself misleading.

Yes, it is fairly modest (source) but the planning list for new offshore farms and extensions is pretty comprehensive (source). Probably not enough to hit 33% but the construction projects are unlikely to stop there.

Renewables fill the "easy" generation, whereas the "hard" part of keeping the grid stable when supply and demand are seriously out of phase must be done by sources which can be quickly started and stopped, which generally means natural gas turbines.

Indeed and the industry expectation is that gas will continue to provide that demand in the short-medium term; the longer-term plan is to use hydrogen and nuclear (source).

 

[passwordistaco]

OK, let's assume that wind/solar up = good.

Coal up = bad.

Nuclear/hydro down = bad.

Gas is flat only because it's not coming in from Russia.

It is not all roses.

 

[Endymio]

the industry expectation is that gas will continue to provide that demand in the short-medium term; the longer-term plan is to use hydrogen and nuclear (source).

You know as well as I do that hydrogen isn't an energy source; it's simply a storage medium. And the UK's "plan" is that offshore windfarms will quintuple within the next 7 years. I'll lay any size bet you choose that this doesn't happen. They won't hit even a third of that target.

 

[shark975]

The price of electricity in eu has skyrocketed, in all cases of solar and wind increases prices have exploded upwards, in direct contrast to left wing promises.

Anyways this basically tells me little, just that a mix of coal, gas, and nuclear are still providing about 80% of EU's power, even after all these years, hype, and massively increased prices. It remains coal and wind are not viable without a fossil/nuclear baseline to rely on.

"That means that wind and solar power cannot contribute more than about a quarter of total electricity demand on the grid, unless there is battery backup. However, as Professor Michaux’ 1000-page paper of 2021 for the Finnish geological survey has established, there are nothing like enough techno-metals to provide battery backup of the entire grid worldwide."

22%, heh. Let me know when unreliables are over 25% of the grid. or the cost of a kwh in eu isn't an arm and a leg. "Household electricity prices increased in all but five EU Member States in the first half of 2022, compared with the first half of 2021."

and remember, this is all before liberal mandated, free market failure ev's add incalculable strain to the grid.

 

[AlaskaGuy]

The only new coal mine that's being made in the UK is to produce coke for steel manufacturing, not to fuel a power plant. As for new power stations, they're either nuclear or wind -- what few remaining coal stations there are in the UK, were told to not run down their fuel stocks and commence decommissioning to counter the expected shortfall in natural gas supply during the winter; there are no plans to keep them permanently open nor extend the facilities in any way. Where demand exceeds generation, the difference is met by buying more from other countries.

The UK never ceases to amaze me.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64471262
The way electricity prices are set has pushed UK household bills up by £7.2bn over two years, analysis suggests.

UK energy bills to rise by 80% in October as regulator announces hike

The government has been criticized for failing to provide enough support to shield consumers from "catastrophic" price rises.

www.cnbc.com

New UK PM Sunak commits to fracking ban - spokesman

Fracking will be banned in England under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, reversing a decision made by his predecessor Liz Truss, as the new British leader returned to a 2019 Conservative Party manifesto pledge.

www.reuters.com

 

[toooooot]

The worst about solar/wind is that when there is none there is no electricity.
What if a climate does a change when there is much less of each? Billions of dollars waste.
Right now, it would be amazing if someone could come up with a reactor which does not require nuclear elements and provided as much electricity. Or if it could work of resources less hazardous than those used in nuclear power plants.

 

[NumberSix]

UK fires up coal power plant. 7 September 2021 -- Warm, still, autumn weather has meant wind farms have not generated as much power as normal, while soaring prices have made it too costly to rely on gas. As a result, National Grid ESO confirmed coal was providing 3% of national power. It said it asked EDF to fire up West Burton A...

And

Jun 1, 2022: Britain could keep coal-fired power plants open this winter... some coal plants slated for closure this year may need to stay open to provide electricity

And:

Jan 30, 2023: "Coal power's share of EU electricity generation rose by 1.5 percentage points in 2022, to account for 16% of annual generation, think-tank Ember said in a report..."

But your primary point is correct: the UK isn't building *new* coal plants. Still, wind and solar account for about 1/5 of the UK's energy. That's near the tipping point. To get to Germany's 30%+ level, one must do what Germany does: essentially use its less-green neighbors as gigantic batteries, exporting excess electricity through the grid when demand is low, and importing it when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow.

Wind & solar produce more than a 5th, these are the last years worth of generation figures for the UK:

Coal 1.6%
Gas 40.9%
Solar 4.6%
Wind 29.8%
Hydroelectric 1.3%
Nuclear 16.7%
Biomass 5.4%
Other 1.0%

 

[Endymio]

Wind & solar produce more than a 5th, these are the last years worth of generation figures for the UK:

Not sure where you got those figures, but the UK has never been that high on wind power. According to the latest data from the UK (Dec 2022), the figures are far smaller.

Energy Trends: December 2022

‘Energy Trends’ is a quarterly bulletin containing statistics on all major aspects of energy in the UK.

www.gov.uk

 

[NumberSix]

Not sure where you got those figures, but the UK has never been that high on wind power. According to the latest data from the UK (Dec 2022), the figures are far smaller.

Energy Trends: December 2022

‘Energy Trends’ is a quarterly bulletin containing statistics on all major aspects of energy in the UK.

www.gov.uk

The figures I gave were from gridwatch and were for the last 365 days so therefore included an extra month of generation from Hornsea 2, the dates you have provided do not include any generation from Hornsea 2.

This set of figures from the National Grid ESO are slightly lower as they are for 2022 alone, as you can see wind generation was 26.8%.

https://www.nationalgrideso.com/news/britains-electricity-explained-2022-review

 

[Endymio]

The figures I gave were from gridwatch and were for the last 365 days

Your quoted figure of 29.8% wind is 3% higher than your source's 26.8%. Still, even the lower number is much higher than what Gov.uk is reporting. The ESO report doesn't give the underlying data to check, but I suspect they're counting the 2500+ GW-hrs/month that the UK imports, much of it over NSL (the Northsea Link) from Norway's wind farms.

 

[dnous]

The price of electricity in eu has skyrocketed, in all cases of solar and wind increases prices have exploded upwards, in direct contrast to left wing promises.

Anyways this basically tells me little, just that a mix of coal, gas, and nuclear are still providing about 80% of EU's power, even after all these years, hype, and massively increased prices. It remains coal and wind are not viable without a fossil/nuclear baseline to rely on.

"That means that wind and solar power cannot contribute more than about a quarter of total electricity demand on the grid, unless there is battery backup. However, as Professor Michaux’ 1000-page paper of 2021 for the Finnish geological survey has established, there are nothing like enough techno-metals to provide battery backup of the entire grid worldwide."

22%, heh. Let me know when unreliables are over 25% of the grid. or the cost of a kwh in eu isn't an arm and a leg. "Household electricity prices increased in all but five EU Member States in the first half of 2022, compared with the first half of 2021."

and remember, this is all before liberal mandated, free market failure ev's add incalculable strain to the grid.

That's wrong, the problem lies with how electricity prices are calculated.The price of electricity is determined by the most expensive way to generate electricity. Which is gas, which as everybody knows by now is very expensive due to the war. This also means that all electricity generated by solar or wind, is now sold for the same price as gas.

If anything this proves why we should move away from fossil fuels asap. Nuclear, combined with solar and wind, are the way forward. Not only is it more sustainable, it also allows countries to not be reliant on other countries for their energy needs.

 

[Endymio]

The price of electricity is determined by the most expensive way to generate electricity... all electricity generated by solar or wind, is now sold for the same price as gas.

LOL, what? This isn't true at all. I think you're confusing how the spot market works with the overall market.

 

[dnous]

LOL, what? This isn't true at all. I think you're confusing how the spot market works with the overall market.

Yes it is. This is why there is an energy crisis and the average household has severe issues with paying for heating and electricity, whilst energy companies are generating massive profits. The prices on the spot market are different, they are almost consistently low (in the Netherlands at least). This doesn't always translate to immediate lower prices as most energy companies buy energy for a certain period. We have "dynamic energy providers" which use day prices. They are consistently low, and in summer even sometimes have "free electricity" due to the increased amount of solar panels on houses combined with the long days in that season.

One of the solutions that is being discussed, which is the most obvious one, is to no longer link the price of electrcity to that of the most expensive way of generating it (fossil fuels).

Explainer: How could Europe cap surging energy prices?

The European Union is preparing emergency plans to cap gas prices or separate power prices from the soaring cost of gas - as well as longer-term reforms aimed at ensuring electricity prices reflect cheaper renewable energy.

www.reuters.com

 

[AlaskaGuy]

That's wrong, the problem lies with how electricity prices are calculated.The price of electricity is determined by the most expensive way to generate electricity. Which is gas, which as everybody knows by now is very expensive due to the war. This also means that all electricity generated by solar or wind, is now sold for the same price as gas.

If anything this proves why we should move away from fossil fuels asap. Nuclear, combined with solar and wind, are the way forward. Not only is it more sustainable, it also allows countries to not be reliant on other countries for their energy needs.

About Ukraine and the price of gas ...

Biden Ban on Public Lands to Cost Economy $670 Billion Over 20 Years | North Dakota Petroleum Council

www.ndoil.org

New UK PM Sunak commits to fracking ban - spokesman

Fracking will be banned in England under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, reversing a decision made by his predecessor Liz Truss, as the new British leader returned to a 2019 Conservative Party manifesto pledge.

www.reuters.com

 

[Endymio]

Yes it is. This is why there is an energy crisis and the average household has severe issues with paying for heating and electricity,

Your link does not mean that your monthly bill is calculated based as if all that electricity were produced with natural gas. Several reasons why not:

- this is the wholesale spot market, for trading among member nations.
- it doesn't affect the price a grid operator charges for its own production.
- grid operators purchase from this market when they have shortfalls. If they have excess, they're *selling*.
- the pricing is set hourly - if the market clears that hour without NG being required, no one pays that price.

Remember, this whole wacky pay-as-clear scheme was chosen as it drastically subsidizes wind and solar power (they always clear first, at zero cost). Consumers in nations which export large amounts of cheap power actually benefit from it. If you're in a nation like the UK, which imports more than triple the MW-hrs it exports, then you're subsidizing the folks in Norway.

 

[AxelAminoff]

Germany's focus on wind and solar took it from the lowest electricity prices in Europe to one of the highest. It also *increased* their carbon emissions, as every wind and solar farm requires an associated natural-gas plant, to fill in when the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine. And Germany and the UK both recently announced they are reopening coal mines and power plants, to cover for energy shortfalls.

Sources?

 

[dnous]

Your link does not mean that your monthly bill is calculated based as if all that electricity were produced with natural gas. Several reasons why not:

- this is the wholesale spot market, for trading among member nations.
- it doesn't affect the price a grid operator charges for its own production.
- grid operators purchase from this market when they have shortfalls. If they have excess, they're *selling*.
- the pricing is set hourly - if the market clears that hour without NG being required, no one pays that price.

Remember, this whole wacky pay-as-clear scheme was chosen as it drastically subsidizes wind and solar power (they always clear first, at zero cost). Consumers in nations which export large amounts of cheap power actually benefit from it. If you're in a nation like the UK, which imports more than triple the MW-hrs it exports, then you're subsidizing the folks in Norway.

You are right, however we, the consumers and businesses, still get charged that price. Even if momentarily all gas power plants aren't producing electricity. The traditional energy companies have fixed prices for certain periods. So even if the energy I am using right now is supposed to be free, my energy company will still charge me as if it was produced with gas. The energy companies that use dynamic contracts however, do use day/hourly prices and are not just consistently cheaper, but also in the summer have "free electricity".

Also grid operators and energy companies are two separate things in the Netherlands. The electrical grid is state owned, whereas the energy market (or providers) has been privatized. The grid operators also saw their cost increasing (for buying additional energy, but also maintenance etc). The increase is about 10 euro a month, so they clearly aren't the issue.