Photovoltaic power production reached a new record in Europe this summer, avoiding imports of 20 billion m3 of gas at a potential cost of 29 billion euros, according to a report published this Wednesday.
Solar energy production was 99.4 terawatt-hours (TWh) between May and August, more than a quarter less than in 2021, according to a document from the Ember think tank, which analyzes data from the European network of transmission operators.
The report says that during the same period last year, the share of solar energy in electricity generation in Europe reached 9% (77.7 TWh).
This summer, 18 of the 27 countries in the European Union (EU) recorded a record for solar energy production, according to available data, including the Netherlands (23% of their electricity mix), Germany (19%) and Spain (17%). %).
On the other hand, France is below average, with only 7.7% of electricity production this summer coming from this form of energy, which is considered renewable, inexhaustible and environmentally friendly.
The biggest growth in PV since 2018 has been in Poland, where production has increased 26 times, followed by Finland and Hungary (five times more), Ember highlights.
Analysts have calculated that without this solar production, the EU would have had to buy another 20 billion m3 of gas, amounting to a €29 billion bill at the daily gas price between May and August.
In addition, the increase in production between summer 2021 and summer 2022 (22 TWh) saved 4 billion m3 of gas in these four months, which means more than six billion euros, the document says.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
