Europe lacks wind and Brazil lacks water for power generation

Are windmills causing a power crunch in Europe?

OSLO/COPENHAGEN, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Wind speeds were milder than usual in Europe this year, so windmills across the bloc generated less electricity which worsened a crunch that sent power prices to record highs as utilities had to buy more coal and scarce, costly, natural gas.

Can Brazil rely on hydropower to protect its energy system?

"That way we could count on these resources to guarantee the security of our energy system." Brazil now has at least seven hydroelectric power projects with pending studies, which ABRAGE said it believes could be resumed in coming years, offering around 2.4 gigawatts (GW) in capacity.

Why is wind energy important in Europe?

Since the 1980s, wind energy has become increasingly important in Europe’s power production. From the first wind farms being built in the late 20th century, wind power provided 17 per cent of Europe’s total electricity consumption in 2022. “But [the industry] is currently facing a unique mix of challenges,” von der Leyen added.

Why are windmills so expensive in Europe?

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Wind speeds were milder than usual in Europe this year, so windmills across the bloc generated less electricity which worsened a crunch that sent power prices to record highs as utilities had to buy more coal and scarce, costly, natural gas.

Is water consumption distributed evenly in Europe?

Water consumption for electricity generation is not distributed evenly in Europe. Power interconnections between countries lead to water savings in power sector. Water consumption of a renewable power system in Europe is hydropower dominated. The energy transition can lead to an increase in water demand in a few countries.

Is wind power the key to Europe's decarbonisation?

“Wind power is perhaps the most important technology for Europe's decarbonisation, in many countries the cheapest and potentially largest domestic source of electricity that can replace volatile imported fossil fuels,” Paweł Czyżak, senior energy and climate data analyst at think tank Ember previously told Euronews Green.