European utilities are world leaders in renewable energy, new ranking shows

European utilities are among the greenest utilities in the world, according to the latest edition of a global utility ranking published by Energy Intelligence.

Spanish utility Iberdrola and Portuguese utility EDP lead the Top 100 Green Utilities list. In total, 6 of the top 10 companies are European, including Iberdrola, EDP, Enel, DONG Energy, EDF, and E.ON.

Published in EI New Energy, the global Top 100 Green Utilities ranking is based on renewable energy portfolio and greenhouse gas emissions. This year’s edition shows that renewable technologies accounted for a staggering 80% of new generation added by large utilities in 2013, compared with 30% in 2012.

“This ranking confirms European utilities’ role as global leaders on green energy. Indeed, European electricity companies today are instrumental in turning Europe’s low-carbon energy transition into reality. EURELECTRIC and its members are continuously working to ensure that investment in green energy remains attractive and that Europe’s energy system adapts as the share of renewable energy continues to grow,” said EURELECTRIC Secretary General Hans ten Berge.

EI New Energy, a specialist publication covering trends in carbon, renewable energy, and transportation, selected 100 of the largest power generators from around the world, accounting for just over half of global capacity. The ranking evaluated their “greenness” according to carbon dioxide emissions per megawatt hour, volume of renewable energy capacity, and proportion of renewables to total capacity.