Almost 90% of new power in Europe from renewable sources in 2016

[OKIsItJustMe]

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/09/new-energy-europe-renewable-sources-2016

[font face=Serif][font size=5]Almost 90% of new power in Europe from renewable sources in 2016[/font]

[font size=4]Wind energy overtakes coal as the EU’s second largest form of power capacity but concerns remain over politicians’ enthusiasm for renewables[/font]

Adam Vaughan
Thursday 9 February 2017 00.00 EST

[font size=3]Renewable energy sources made up nearly nine-tenths of new power added to Europe’s electricity grids last year, in a sign of the continent’s rapid shift away from fossil fuels.

But industry leaders said they were worried about the lack of political support beyond 2020, when binding EU renewable energy targets end.

Of the 24.5GW of new capacity built across the EU in 2016, 21.1GW – or 86% – was from wind, solar, biomass and hydro, eclipsing the previous high-water mark of 79% in 2014.

For the first time windfarms accounted for more than half of the capacity installed, the data from trade body WindEurope showed. Wind power overtook coal to become the EU’s second largest form of power capacity after gas, though due to the technology’s intermittent nature, coal still meets more of the bloc’s electricity demand.

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[NickB79]

1. Just to be clear, this is NEW capacity added in 2016

Not ALL capacity across the continent. Europe didn't suddenly shut down almost all their fossil fuel baseload plants in one year.

Just in case anyone misunderstands the headline.

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. I don't think anyone in this group would make that mistake

Of course, I could be worng.

However, let’s not lose sight of just how impressive that figure is.

[NNadir]

3. It would be impressive if the capacity utilization of this stuff was even 50%.

It's not. A 1 GW putative solar plant is actually the equivalent of a 100 MW gas plant, except that unlike the solar plant, the gas plant doesn't require another gas plant to back it up.

Pretending this is wonderful while CO2 concentrations surge is simply and baldly, denial.

The so called "renewable energy" scam has not worked, is not working and will not work.

It's an expensive failure, one we cannot afford.