Renewable energy predictions made following environmental analysis

An environmental analysis into the future of renewable energy sources throughout Europe has been conducted, with researchers predicting the use of wind power will grow 17-fold by 2020.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) also discovered the use of solar power would grow 11-fold during the same timeframe.

Members of the organisation have scrutinised the plans of EU member states and made the projections based on the targets set by each nation.

The EEA is hoping to achieve the goal of having 20 per cent of the EU's power supply derived from sustainable sources by 2020.

Executive director at the body Jacqueline McGlade said pollution from coal and gas-fired energy plants is costing the continent billions of euros, which makes it even more important for renewable energy forms to be more widely adopted.

"With a concerted effort we can and should go even further to phase in renewable energy sources," she remarked.

A recent study conducted by GlobeScan on behalf of the BBC showed most European citizens are against the increased deployment of nuclear power sites.

Posted by Claire Manning