Europe’s energy evolution: a tale of nuclear power and renewables
Europe’s approach to energy is a mosaic of different strategies and outcomes. The EU relies on nuclear power for a quarter of its electricity, with France being the largest producer.
Hydropower
Water power plays a crucial role within the Portuguese energy mix. The country can count on 7.3 GW of hydroelectric plants, with dams all over the country’s rivers. These facilities generated 13 percent of Portugal’s power in 2022. However, recurring droughts are forcing the country to restrict water use for electricity production. The 2022 figure represents a sharp drop in power production, which in 2021 guaranteed over a quarter of the country’s electricity. Current hydro and wind power plants represent 83 percent of the country’s total power generation capacity.
Mainland Greece is a mountainous country for the most part, thus having lots of room for hydropower development. Leading electricity company DEI estimates an 80 Twh yearly theoretical potential, with only 40 percent currently exploited. Two large hydropower plants (Messochora and Metsovitiko) are under construction and will have a combined capacity of 200 megawatts.
Italy and Spain have things in common – but not the way they produce energy
Despite having similar geographical positioning, Italy and Spain are very different in how they produce power. In our European Energy Index, Spain often scores better than Italy, and there are several reasons behind this gap.
Work to do
Like the rest of Europe, both countries are working on expanding their renewable energy capacity, reducing their dependence on fossil fuels. Similarly to the bigger Mediterranean cousins Spain and Italy, they are boosting their renewable energy ambitions. Portugal plans to bet on solar and wind energy to improve its renewables usage further, and Greece is considering introducing nuclear power to its energy mix.
For Portugal, the job will be easier – given its already high renewable power generation, one of the highest in Europe – but it remains to be seen if and how the goals previously set will be achieved. The same goes for Greece, and for Europe as a whole.
Source link : https://innovationorigins.com/en/transition-in-progress-greece-and-portugal-on-the-quest-for-more-renewable-energy/
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Publish date : 2023-08-10 07:00:00
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