The transition to renewable energy

The good news is that production from renewable sources has been increasing in Luxembourg over the past few years, and a certain dynamic is taking hold. Even so, we can and must do better. Just by looking at Luxembourg’s Earth Overshoot Day, which reflects our gargantuan appetite for energy, we can see that doing better is a moral obligation.

Fortunately, Luxembourg has the capacity to succeed because the advantage of renewable energy is that it’s available locally, close to where it’s produced and used. For us, it’s biomass, wind, and especially the sun. So, building wind turbines and installing photovoltaic panels will be priorities.

The cost of producing photovoltaic electricity will remain stable since the sun remains free of charge. In the long term, it’s reasonable to expect lower prices among other things thanks to improvements in panel efficiency and the proliferation of photovoltaic installations.

One thing to consider when talking about the price of energy from our renewable sources is the cost of storage. Wind or solar power is available immediately and must be used immediately. The surplus, therefore the unused energy, can be stored, and this storage comes at a cost, a bit like an oil tank. The question arises as to the level of storage. Let me remind you: filling an oil tank is expensive, while using the sun to fill a battery doesn’t cost anything. Just as, in the long run, the installation of solar panels is free or even brings in money.

In 2020, Luxembourg’s national production covered 1/5 of its consumption. Around 16% of this production is based on renewable energy sources. It’s growing thanks to the installation of new, more efficient wind turbines as well as the installation of a large number of photovoltaic panels, largely in agriculture, on the roofs of stables and barns.

Geographically, most energy is consumed in the south and centre of the country, while it is produced mainly in the north and other rural areas. Production must be brought closer to consumption, hence the need to cover roofs and other sealed surfaces.