StoryMaps
Complementarity in renewable energy supply
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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
Caption: gross final consumption of renewable energy
Renewable energy in the EU

Caption: gross final consumption of renewable energy
Caption: Solar electricity production capacity

Caption: Solar electricity production capacity
Potential of solar and wind
Caption: Solar power capacity (EMHIRES)
Potential of solar and wind

Caption: Solar power capacity (EMHIRES)
Caption: Wind capacity factor in EU

Caption: Wind capacity factor in EU
Storage through pumped-hydro
Caption: Location of pumped-hydro storage systems in Europe.
Storage through pumped-hydro

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