Renewable energy generation rose in 2020, ending the year at 120.7 TWh, once again helping keep CO2 emissions in check. Variable production costs are zero for renewable generation, and it is usually substituted for fossil-fired thermal technologies that are costlier to operate and have high emissions, coal-fired plants being an example.
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Renewable coverage of power demand jumped from 23% to 26.9% in 2020. The decline in nuclear generation relative to 2019 was thus offset in part by increases in wind and solar generation, favoured by weather conditions and further growth in installed capacity. Hydropower accounted for 50.3% of renewable coverage, wind for 32.8%, solar for 10.6% and bioenergy for 6.3%.
The highest level of renewable coverage of demand was recorded late in the day on Friday, 5 June 2020, when it reached 52.9%.
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