Diversification, concentration and renewability of the energy supply in the European Union

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 253; p. 124097
• Main Authors: De Rosa, Mattia, Gainsford, Kenneth, Pallonetto, Fabiano, Finn, Donal P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 15.08.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Dependence; Diversity; Electric power generation; Energy; Energy policy; Energy security; Energy sources; Fuels; Geopolitics; Import dependency; Imports; International relations; Renewable energy; Renewable resources; Resources; Security; Stability; Stochasticity; Energy security; Resources; Renewable energy; Diversity; Dependence; Import dependency
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.124097

Energy security assessment quantifies the energy supply to a population and the likelihood, or risk, of an energy disruption or shortage and represents an important aspect of national security, economic stability and prosperity. The quantification of the state of energy supply is context-dependent and involves multiple perspectives: infrastructural, technological, environmental, market, social and geopolitical. Among all the different and relevant aspects involved, diversity and dependence of the energy fuel mix are two of the main energy security dimensions. The present paper investigates the diversification of the energy supply in Europe, by analysing import dependence, market concentration and renewable energy resource deployment in the European Union over the last decade. The analysis utilises a set of indicators aimed at measuring the fuel mix diversity, market concentration, geopolitical stability, renewable energy share and stochasticity - both at single country and at aggregated European levels. Results show a stable evolution of the diversity of the fuel mix and a relatively low market concentration of the period examined. However, the import dependency reduces the energy security by approximately 30% due to the high proportion of imports from a limited number of countries. Moreover, an increasing trend in renewable electricity production share is evident over the last decade, albeit with differences between member states, as a result of the decarbonisation policies implemented by the European Union. •Europe shows a stable evolution of the fuel mix diversity at EU28 aggregated level.•European import dependency reduces the energy security by 30%.•The implementation of the RES policies across the EU is not homogenous.•Diversification of the fuel mix and support for domestic fuels need to be fostered.•Policies need to merge decarbonisation targets with energy security constraints.