Transitioning to Clean Energy: A Comprehensive Analysis of Renewable Electricity Generation in the EU-27

Kristiana Dolge () and Dagnija Blumberga
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Kristiana Dolge: Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Faculty of Electrical and Environmental Engineering, Riga Technical University, Azenes Street 12/1, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
Dagnija Blumberga: Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Faculty of Electrical and Environmental Engineering, Riga Technical University, Azenes Street 12/1, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-27

Abstract: The EU power sector is under increasing pressure due to rising electricity demand and the need to meet decarbonisation targets. Member states have been active in investing in renewables and building capacity to increase their share of renewables in electricity generation. However, it is important to examine what progress each member state has made in the deployment of renewable energy for electricity generation and what factors influence gross electricity generation from renewable energy. In this study, logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) analysis was used to examine the changes in EU-27 countries’ gross electricity generation from renewable energy sources (RES), wind, and solar PV from 2012 to 2021. The results show that the RES deployment per capita effect and the RES share effect were the main positive factors for the total gross electricity generation from RES in the EU. In contrast, the RES capacity productivity effect and the energy intensity effect had negative contributions. Population growth had a positive influence but was less significant than the other factors. The deployment of RES per capita effect was the main factor in the overall growth of gross electricity generation from RES in Northern Europe, Central Western Europe, and Central Eastern Europe, according to comparisons between the regional groups. RES share effect was the main driver in Southern Europe. The decrease in RES capacity productivity was the second most important factor influencing the variation in the amount of energy generated by RES in Northern Europe and Central Western Europe. The results could be used to develop more effective and tailored renewable energy policies that take into account the existing main drivers of RES, wind, and solar energy in each of the EU-27 member states.

Keywords: renewable energy; LMDI; decomposition analysis; energy policy; renewable electricity; European Union; RES (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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