Situation and Perspectives for Solar Energy in Europe and a Comparison With Nuclear Energy After Fukushima

Availability of secure, sustainable and competitive sources of energy is essential to economic growth, prosperity and quality of life in Europe. In view of the expected growth in demand for energy, of the increasing evidence of the climate change and the aim to ensure the security of energy supply in Europe, further reflections on nuclear and solar energy as best potential energy sources in the Europe energy mix is needed. A renewed interest in Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) is rapidly growing worldwide. Indeed, new commercial applications for electricity production are starting right now, 20 years after the deployment of the first 354 MWe of the so called “SEGS” plants in the Mojave desert, still operating since the early ’80s. Indeed a large amount of energy and water desalination needs in the so called EU-MENA region (Europe- Middle East-North Africa) – therefore comprising large areas around the Mediterranean coasts - could be actually satisfied using CSP technologies. Nuclear energy, supplying over 31 per cent of electricity demand, plays a key role in the EU’s generation structure. It has the potential to meet the ever-increasing demand for electricity, as well as contribute to the Community’s energy independence and security of supplies. Despite many grown countries like France, Bulgaria, and Finland, there are some countries without nuclear power like Denmark, Portugal, Poland, Ireland, Austria, Greece, Italy or phased-out countries like Germany, which is set to change the power generation mix towards more renewable energy sources. Consequences of the Fukushima disaster are to be felt in the future. The market growth of solar thermal systems and photovoltaics in Europe depends on the policy of the governments towards the use of solar energy systems, on the sensitivity of the people concerning environment and on the improvement of the technology combined with price reduction of solar systems. Considering the targets of EU for renewable in the 20-20-20 programme, solar energy systems can play a significant role in many countries.