Aspects of primary production of solar thermal and photovoltaic energy in European Union

Abstract

Although in the last decade of the last century the primary renewable energy production has had a general growth trend that, in relative values, have surpassed the primary energy production from classical sources, the real boom of renewable energy production has occurred after 2000. Thus, if in 2000 the primary renewable energy production has represented 11.06% of the total primary energy production, in 2005 it has reached to 14.13% and in 2015 to 28.34%. The sun has been used as a source of thermal energy since ancient times. However, the thermal energy production was only 149.1 Thousand tonnes of oil equivalent (TOE) at European Union (28 countries) level (EU-28), in 1990, representing less than 0.02% of total primary energy production. The photovoltaic energy was practically inexistent in 1990, its primary production volume being of only 1.1 TOE. However, it has recorded an explosive growth since 2000. These aspects are the results of the significance given to the renewable energy production at EU level, K. Traube [1], H. Lund [2], J. Andrei, J. Subic, and D. Dusmanescu [3], as well as of the imperatives of sustainable development, A

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