BM_Visser

isotopp, 15 hours ago to random German

@BM_Visser

I wonder: In many energy graphs, we see a lowered total energy demand in the recent years.

This is often attributed to businesses fleeing the country due to higher energy prices (mostly by pro-fossil propaganda).

I believe that there is unaccounted local solar consumption that is consumed when it is produced where it is produced and never shows up in any stats, leading to lowered demand during peak solar hours.

Is there any evidence or accounting for this?

BM_Visser, 15 hours ago to random Dutch

Since 2004, the fraction of renewable energy in EU27 has increased by about 0,8% percentagepoints per year.

I estimate that the annual increase will be larger in 2023 and 2024. This increase is mainly due to the very high energy prices and hence, lower final energy demand, power and gas, and hence, the shrinkage of industrial production.

Nevertheless, it will require significant more efforts to get to 42,5% renewables in the EU27 energy mix in 2030, as agreed in the Green Deal. Realistic?

ArjanBos, 6 days ago to random

@BM_Visser @remcodb Are you familiar with this research? “even in the current market, the analysis strongly suggests that, in energy terms, renewable sources are already producing more energy per unit of energy used to produce them than fossil fuels.” https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/05/we-get-more-useful-energy-out-of-renewables-than-fossil-fuels/

BM_Visser, 6 days ago to random Dutch

In 2024, until now, most EU-countries have had 4-5% hours with negative day ahead power prices.

Since the growth of solar and wind occurs at a much faster rate than the growth of electricity consumption*, it may be expected that the amount of such hours will increase significantly in coming years.

*since 2010, EU electricity demand is stable, which implies that increase in consumption (e.g. ICT) is compensated by savings, e.g. due to the EU-ecodesign measures.