Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro and Romania reach EU 2020 renewable energy goals

Four countries from the Balkan region – Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro and Romania – reached their national targets for the share of renewable energy in total consumption by 2020, according to latest Eurostat data for 2015.

Share of energy from renewable sources in final consumption in Romania reached 24.8 percent, achieving the country’s EU 2020 target, which was set at 24 percent.

Montenegro is the regional leader with 43,1 percent (against the 33 percent target), while Croatia has beaten its own target by nine percent and is getting 29 percent of energy from RES. With 18,2 percent Bulgaria has met its 16 percent target. The latest Eurostat report does not have data for Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Greece is lagging behind its 18 percent target with 15,4 percent. Slovenia is receiving 22 percent of energy from RES and its aim is 25. Albania, whose target is 38, receives 34.9 percent of energy from renewables. Cyprus is getting only 9.4 percent (target is 13), and Macedonia 19.9 percent (target is 28).

Figure 1: These figures come from an article issued by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union

As for EU countries, Sweden reached the highest number of 53.9 percent. Following far behind are Finland (39.3), Latvia (37.6), Austria (33), and Denmark (30.8). Of the five, only Scandinavian countries have met their EU 2020 targets.

At the opposite end were Luxembourg and Malta, which covered only 5 percent of their energy consumption from renewable sources, the Netherlands (5.8), Belgium (7.9) and the United Kingdom (8.2).