Filenews 1 February 2022
There has been an increase in the share of renewable energy sources in total gross electricity consumption, from 34% in 2019 to 37% in 2020, according to data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
Cyprus is still low in the ranking among European Union countries as only 12% of gross electricity consumption was produced from renewable energy sources in 2020.
However, the percentage of gross electricity consumption produced from renewable energy sources in Cyprus increased compared to 2019, when it stood at 10% and compared to 2018 when it was just over 9%.
This percentage has steadily increased since 2004 when Cyprus joined the EU and when it was marginally above 0%. The figure exceeded 1% only in 2010, and then rose to 3% in 2011, 5% in 2012, around 7% in 2013 and 2014, 8% in 2015 before approaching and surpassing 9% in the period 2016 to 2018.
The countries with the highest gross consumption of electricity from renewable energy sources in 2020 were Austria (78%) and Sweden (75%), with Denmark (65%), Portugal (58%), Croatia and Latvia (both 53%) following. These six countries are the only ones where the percentage has exceeded 50%.
The lowest rates (below 15%) were recorded in five countries: Malta (10%), Hungary and Cyprus (both 12%), Luxembourg (14%) and the Czech Republic (15%).
As far as the European Union in general is concerned, the largest share of electricity consumption from renewable energy sources comes from wind energy (36%) and hydropower (33%), with the rest coming from solar energy (14%), solid biofuels (8%) and other renewable sources (8%).
The largest increase is recorded Europe-wide in solar energy as it was only 1% in 2008.
