13/4/2010

This indicator is the ratio between the electricity produced from renewable energy sources and the gross national electricity consumption calculated for a calendar year. It measures the contribution of electricity produced from renewable energy sources to the national electricity consumption.

Data is compiled through annual Joint Questionnaires (one for electricity and another one for renewable energy sources). These questionnaires are called " joint " because they are shared by Eurostat and the International Energy Agency (IEA, part of the OECD).

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Electricity produced from renewable energy sources comprises the electricity generation from hydro plants (excluding pumping), wind, solar, geothermal and electricity from biomass/wastes. Gross national electricity consumption comprises the total gross national electricity generation from all fuels (including autoproduction), plus electricity imports, minus exports.

The main definitions involved in this indicator are the following:

1. Renewable energy sources: renewable non-fossil energy sources (wind, solar, geothermal, hydro and biomass/wastes)

2. Electricity produced from renewable energy sources: it comprises of the electricity generation from hydro plants (excluding pumping), wind, solar, geothermal and electricity from biomass/wastes. Biomass/wastes electricity comprises of electricity generated from wood/wood wastes and other solid wastes of renewable nature (straw, black liquor) burning, municipal solid waste incineration, biogas (incl. landfill, sewage, farm gas) and liquid biofuels.

3. Gross national electricity consumption: it comprises of the total gross national electricity generation from all fuels (including auto production), plus electricity imports, minus exports.

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Data is available for all Member States, Candidate and Accessing Countries, Iceland and Norway.

Time series are given from 1997 onwards

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Both, electricity produced from renewable energy sources and gross national electricity consumption are measured in GWh. Therefore, the share of renewable energy ratio is measured in absolute value, but presented in the form of a percentage.

One year

Energy indicators are compiled on the basis of the data collected under the standard collection cycles of the "Energy Statistics Unit". The relevant energy data collections are regulated since 2008 with the entry-into-force of the Regulation (EC) No 1099/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2008 on Energy Statistics.

Moreover, the approval of Directive 2001/77/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001, on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market, obliges EU-Member States to report on the improvement of this rate to reach the indicative targets by 2010.

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Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.

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In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Dissemination format') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.

Annual

Structures of the taxation systems in the European Union

Please consult free data on-line.

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Internet address: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat

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Quality Profile

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Generally data is of very good quality. Data is collected from reliable sources applying high standards with regard to the methodology ensuring a high degree of comparability.

The indicator measures the relation of electricity produced from renewable energy sources to the national energy consumption.

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The overall accuracy of the indicator can be considered as high. Data is submitted on the basis of an Annual Joint Questionnaire employing an internationally agreed methodology. Eurostat receives disaggregated data which are used to countercheck the results and to ensure consistency with the total amount of energy consumption. The accuracy of the basic data depends on the quality of the national statistical system and may vary from country to country. In several countries and for most energy commodities data provision by the companies is requested by law. However, emerging liberalization processes in some countries may to some extent negatively affect accuracy in some cases.

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The annual Joint Questionnaires containing the information necessary to calculate this ratio are sent at latest in November of the year following the reference year. Data are then treated to find inconsistencies and finally input in the database. It takes about two months (release about January).

The countries should provide the data by T+11.

Fully comparable data due to the use of the joint questionnaire. Eurostat verifies to the extent possible if the reported data respect the prescribed methodology. The basic data collection methods are however the responsibility of the Member States. Data availability for the US and Japan is taken from the OECD.

Fully comparable data. The data is subject to annual revisions and specific actions to introduce minor changes in the time. Backwards calculations are made in case of any changes in the methodology.

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The data is subject to annual revisions. From time to time specific actions targeted to selected items to improve the methodology - including the time series are carried out. Backwards calculations are made in case of any changes in the methodology.

The annual Joint Questionnaire covers two periods: the current one and a revision of the previous one if so. Therefore, data revisions are possible every year when receiving the Questionnaires. Eventually, Member States can provide from time to time adjustments to past data.

These data have been traditionally compiled by Eurostat through the annual Joint Questionnaires (joint, because they are shared by Eurostat and the International Energy Agency - IEA, part of OECD), one for electricity and another one for renewable energy sources.

The annual Joint Questionnaires containing the information to calculate the share of renewable energy are sent at latest by November of the year following the reference year.

Due to the heavy load of information, data are transmitted electronically by using a common set of tables. Data is then treated to find inconsistencies and input in the database.

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Aggregated figures for EU-27, EU-25 and EU-15 are also available

None. Estimations are done for 2010.

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