Ember Report: Record production of green energy in our country

Half of the electricity produced by our country in the first half of 2023 comes from wind and photovoltaic capacities, according to the report prepared by the non-governmental organization Ember, which is a British think tank in the field of environmental protection and advocates for reducing the use of coal.

"Following the increase in the last years of the objectives regarding renewable sources, both the EU and each member state are registering new records. Wind and solar accounted for more than 30% of electricity production in the EU in May and July. Solar growth continued in the first half of the year, with production up 13% compared to the same period in 2022. Wind power production rose 5%, while the amount of power produced by hydro plants returned to average levels ( +11%), and nuclear power production fell by 4%, but a recovery is expected by the end of the year. From January to June, 17 countries generated record shares of energy from renewable sources, Greece and Romania exceeding 50% for the first time, and Denmark and Portugal, exceeding 75%," the quoted report states.

The mention of our country in the report among the European performers in terms of green energy production was welcomed by Virgil Popescu, former Minister of Energy in the governments of Orban, Cîţu and Ciucă.

"The measures I took as Minister of Energy to diversify clean energy sources in the national energy mix have proven effective! In the first 6 months of this year, in our country renewable energy accounted for more than 50% of the total electricity production! I will continue to support the measures by which we increase green energy production units", said Virgil Popescu in a post on the official Facebook page.

The cited document also shows that in the first half of the current year, the lowest fossil-based energy production was recorded. Wind and solar continued to grow, with solar generation up 13% and wind up 5%. Hydro and nuclear have recovered from record lows in 2022, but their long-term outlook is uncertain. The decline in coal production was mainly driven by a significant drop in electricity demand amid persistently high gas and power prices, a reduction in industrial production and winter emergency measures. Basically fossil fuel generation has collapsed by 17%. In the first semester, fossil fuels generated 410 TWh in the EU, representing only 33% of demand. This collapse is based on the 23% drop in coal production and 13% in natural gas production. In May, coal set a record, accounting for less than 10% of EU electricity production for the first time.

The report also notes that in the first six months the demand for electricity decreased by 5% compared to the same period last year. Amid high energy prices and emergency measures, electricity demand fell substantially to a record low of 1261 TWh, just below the 2020 pandemic low of 1271 TWh and the lowest since 2008 for current member states. This decline was responsible for most of the decline in fossil production in the EU.