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StoryMaps

Complementarity in renewable energy supply

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– Economic activities and energy use –
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Introduction

EnerMaps is a Horizon 2020 (H2020) Coordination and Support Action (CSA) project that aims at improving data management practices in energy research and management. Currently, energy data is often difficult to find, mixed in different repositories, and fragmented, which can slow progresses, increase costs, and create an overall lack of efficiency in the field of energy research. EnerMaps will act as a quality-checked database of crucial energy data that will communicate and disseminate data effectively and efficiently using practices to make the data findable, accessible, interoperable, and re-usable (FAIR).

The objective of this storymap is to increase the accessibility to the EnerMaps tools and improve the discoverability of selected datasets. StoryMaps are an efficient way to present spatial data for all audience and we hope that specialists and non specialists will enjoy the reading. Feedback is more than welcome using the form below and please share!

Energy is an essential ingredient in modern society, required in all economic activities. Throughout history, innovations and growth have led to an almost uninterrupted increase in consumption. Energy takes multiple forms and is available nearly everywhere. Historical events such as energy supply disruptions or economic crises have shown how everything depends on it. The recent invasion of Ukraine shows again how fossil fuels are strategic in wars and other conflicts, especially when supply is controlled by people with hostile intentions. Every level of instance, such as countries, industries, or institutions, understand today the challenge to secure their energy supply.

In parallel, climate change has become an emergency. The impacts of global warming are increasingly visible. In 2015, 196 parties have agreed on the Paris agreement to limit temperature increase to below 2 degrees and 1.5, if possible, by 2100. This requires most nations to be climate neutral by 2050 and produce their energy from renewable sources. The timing for this transition is extremely short and leaves approximately thirty years for adaptation. In this context, what is the potential of renewable energy in Europe? what would be the energy balance to become resilient and carbon-free in 2050?

In parallel, climate change has become an emergency. The impacts of global warming are increasingly visible. In 2015, 196 parties have agreed on the Paris agreement to limit temperature increase to below 2 degrees and 1.5, if possible, by 2100. This requires most nations to be climate neutral by 2050 and produce their energy from renewable sources. The timing for this transition is extremely short and leaves approximately thirty years for adaptation. In this context, what is the potential of renewable energy in Europe? what would be the energy balance to become resilient and carbon-free in 2050?

Renewable energy in the EU

In the European Union, Member States have different shares of gross final consumption from renewable energy. This map shows data from the EnerMaps visualization tool with the ratio of renewable to conventional sources. Northern countries such as Sweden, Finland, and Denmark have the highest shares: for example, Sweden has 55% of gross final consumption that comes from renewables, while the Netherlands has only 8%. Clearly, the potential is different in each country, depending on trade and domestic resources, but also on policies that can increase and promote renewable energy sources.

Caption: gross final consumption of renewable energy

Renewable energy in the EU

In the European Union, Member States have different shares of gross final consumption from renewable energy. This map shows data from the EnerMaps visualization tool with the ratio of renewable to conventional sources. Northern countries such as Sweden, Finland, and Denmark have the highest shares: for example, Sweden has 55% of gross final consumption that comes from renewables, while the Netherlands has only 8%. Clearly, the potential is different in each country, depending on trade and domestic resources, but also on policies that can increase and promote renewable energy sources.

Caption: gross final consumption of renewable energy

For example, one can see in the next map that Germany has a much higher power capacity of solar panels, 56 gigawatts (GW), in comparison to France which has approximately 10 GW. This difference is the result of policies in Germany that promoted solar panels and boosted their production and installation within the country. This illustrates how appropriate measures can have drastic effects.

Caption: Solar electricity production capacity

For example, one can see in the next map that Germany has a much higher power capacity of solar panels, 56 gigawatts (GW), in comparison to France which has approximately 10 GW. This difference is the result of policies in Germany that promoted solar panels and boosted their production and installation within the country. This illustrates how appropriate measures can have drastic effects.

Caption: Solar electricity production capacity

Potential of solar and wind

As seen with the shares of renewable energy, which are below 50% for most EU countries, decarbonizing the energy production in Europe will require significant efforts. Moreover, the potential of renewable energy sources varies across regions which means that across the continent, solar, wind, hydro or biomass have a high degree of complementarity. The maps here [Figures 1.2.3 and 1.2.4] from the EnerMaps tool illustrate the power capacity of solar and wind production at the regional level. It represents the capacity to produce in comparison to a power plant at a continuous and full capacity. Location is therefore a key piece of the puzzle. Looking at Germany, one can see that the north has a high potential for wind, approximately 55% while the south is at 36%.

Caption: Solar power capacity (EMHIRES)

Potential of solar and wind

As seen with the shares of renewable energy, which are below 50% for most EU countries, decarbonizing the energy production in Europe will require significant efforts. Moreover, the potential of renewable energy sources varies across regions which means that across the continent, solar, wind, hydro or biomass have a high degree of complementarity. The maps here [Figures 1.2.3 and 1.2.4] from the EnerMaps tool illustrate the power capacity of solar and wind production at the regional level. It represents the capacity to produce in comparison to a power plant at a continuous and full capacity. Location is therefore a key piece of the puzzle. Looking at Germany, one can see that the north has a high potential for wind, approximately 55% while the south is at 36%.

Caption: Solar power capacity (EMHIRES)

On the contrary, for solar production, the south has a higher capacity of solar production than the north at around 40% against 15%. Provided electricity can be easily transported, the complementarity between wind in the north and solar in the south of the country has already been proven. While this is true at the national level, similar conclusions can be drawn for the entire continent. The coastal regions, the UK, and the alps have a very high wind potential while the southern regions such as Italy, Switzerland, Spain, have a high potential for solar production. In this configuration, a resilient production must be interconnected within Europe, to compensate for the lack of sun at night or the intermittency of wind and optimize production. Moreover, offshore wind capacity is not included in this dataset and has more production capacity than onshore.

Caption: Wind capacity factor in EU

On the contrary, for solar production, the south has a higher capacity of solar production than the north at around 40% against 15%. Provided electricity can be easily transported, the complementarity between wind in the north and solar in the south of the country has already been proven. While this is true at the national level, similar conclusions can be drawn for the entire continent. The coastal regions, the UK, and the alps have a very high wind potential while the southern regions such as Italy, Switzerland, Spain, have a high potential for solar production. In this configuration, a resilient production must be interconnected within Europe, to compensate for the lack of sun at night or the intermittency of wind and optimize production. Moreover, offshore wind capacity is not included in this dataset and has more production capacity than onshore.

Caption: Wind capacity factor in EU

Storage through pumped-hydro

Although cloudy days without wind seldom occur over large regions, renewable energy remains intermittent and is not necessarily produced when needed. A key aspect of the system is storage. Solar production is entirely generated during the day, but electricity consumption is highest in the evening. It is thus necessary to store the surplus production and use it at another time, or even another season if the storage system allows it. Pumped hydro-power plants have this capacity.

Caption: Location of pumped-hydro storage systems in Europe.

Storage through pumped-hydro

Although cloudy days without wind seldom occur over large regions, renewable energy remains intermittent and is not necessarily produced when needed. A key aspect of the system is storage. Solar production is entirely generated during the day, but electricity consumption is highest in the evening. It is thus necessary to store the surplus production and use it at another time, or even another season if the storage system allows it. Pumped hydro-power plants have this capacity.

Caption: Location of pumped-hydro storage systems in Europe.

One can see their location in Europe in the map displaying European Commission data in EnerMaps. They are mostly located in the Alps and represent one of the best solutions for storing energy from one season to another. Unfortunately, there is a limited capacity, therefore, new inter-seasonal storage systems must be developed for areas without capacities.
One can see their location in Europe in the map displaying European Commission data in EnerMaps. They are mostly located in the Alps and represent one of the best solutions for storing energy from one season to another. Unfortunately, there is a limited capacity, therefore, new inter-seasonal storage systems must be developed for areas without capacities.

Are renewable energy sources displacing fossil fuels?

After seeing these opportunities in Europe, one might ask if the production of renewable energy sources are displacing fossil fuels as they should. A study shows that it is unfortunately not the case, and one kWh of non-fossil fuel electricity replaces only partially the fossil fuel equivalent. Globally, the results show that displacing 1 kWh of fossil fuel electricity requires generating 5 to 13 kWh of non-fossil fuel electricity depending on the model studied, according to publications accessible through the EnerMaps gateway by searching for displaced fossil fuels The main reason is that renewable energy mostly satisfies the growth in energy consumption and thus cannot replace the demand for fossil fuels. Also, there is a strong dependence of infrastructures on fossil fuels. Their dominant use in most sectors makes it difficult to change the production systems on a large scale.

These conclusions show how challenging the energy transition is. Fortunately, renewable energy sources are complementary, distributed over the entire continent and suitable for most situation. To tackle the challenges of the transition and mitigate climate change, there are no general solutions, and every region must find its own way with its own capacities. Something the EnerMaps tools was precisely made for. The one single solution which would simplify the transition everywhere is to reduce consumption. It is one of the most impactful measures that can be implemented to decarbonize and become more resilient, but difficult to apply without the collective and individual willingness to do so.

These conclusions show how challenging the energy transition is. Fortunately, renewable energy sources are complementary, distributed over the entire continent and suitable for most situation. To tackle the challenges of the transition and mitigate climate change, there are no general solutions, and every region must find its own way with its own capacities. Something the EnerMaps tools was precisely made for. The one single solution which would simplify the transition everywhere is to reduce consumption. It is one of the most impactful measures that can be implemented to decarbonize and become more resilient, but difficult to apply without the collective and individual willingness to do so.

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The EnerMaps project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement N°884161

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    logobigger210

    The EnerMaps project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement N°884161

    Contact Us



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