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Europe saw record growth in renewable generation in 2015, according to a report by the environmental campaign group Sandbag.
Renewable generation rose by 87TWh, getting near to double the average for the previous five years, and roughly three times the increase in 2014.
The ‘Review of the European Power Sector in 2015’ says more than three quarters of new renewable generation came from just three countries: Germany, the UK and Italy. The only other countries that came anywhere close were France and Sweden.
Despite the increase, Sandbag estimates that carbon dioxide emissions fell by only 0.5 per cent, although it describes this as a “pause for breath” following a 7.5 per cent reduction last year.
The report says falling nuclear and hydropower generation, which it does not include with renewables, meant fossil fuel generation held steady over 2015. At the same time electricity demand rose by 1.1 per cent, following a 2.3 per cent reduction in 2014 due to milder weather.
Greater reductions to carbon dioxide emissions are expected in 2016, according to Sandbag, as demand falls, renewable generation continues to increase and coal fired power stations close.
Three Dutch plants closed in November last year and more will have to shut over the next 12 months, between them cutting 2.7GW of coal fired generation in the country. Three of the UK’s plants are expected to close this year, removing 5.7GW of generation, and the rest of Europe is expected to lose another 4.3GW.
Meanwhile, two Belgian nuclear plants returned to service in November and nuclear plants in Sweden, Switzerland and the Czech Republic are also predicted to come back online this year, further cutting emissions.
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