Industry NewsRenewable energy made up 10.3 per cent of the European Union's consumption for 2008, meaning it is over halfway to its 2020 target of 20 per cent, according to the latest statistics from Eurostat. The EU's statistical office note that the combined percentage of green energy for its member states continued to rise from 8.8 per cent in 2006 and 9.7 per cent in 2007, and while Sweden has the highest proportion of 44.4 per cent, the UK is still languishing behind on 2.2 per cent.
The EU set an individual target for each of its 27 members in 2009, based on its current renewable energy use, its potential for increase and its economic position. According to Eurostat, Romania and Sweden are the closest to their respective targets, while the UK remains 12.8 per cent behind its goal of 15 per cent. Only Malta and Luxembourg have achieved lower percentages of renewable energy than the UK, which lags far behind the other two most powerful nations in the list; 11 per cent of France's power comes from renewable sources, compared to 8.9 per cent of Germany's.
The EU has stated previously that it would consider increasing its overall target to 30 per cent if other international superpowers such as the USA and China agree to a global climate agreement.