Accelerating the journey to net zero

Exhibit 2 Low availability from nuclear and hydro sources led to increased coal output in 2022.

Power generation in Europe, 1 2021–22, TWh 2

2021 3

2022 4

Dispatchable power

Intermittent power

+6%

+12%

–19%

+15%

+23%

–14%

564

485

419 446

367

335

297

292

285 319

134 164

Nuclear

Gas

Coal

Hydro

Wind

Solar

Factors for 2022 increases or decreases

French fleet under maintenance (32 out of 56 reactors)

Despite high prices, gas used to fill gap left by lower nuclear generation

Compensating for reduction of other dispatchable sources

Impact of drought, especially in southern Europe

Increased installed capacity (~7%) and favorable weather vs 2021

Increased installed capacity (~15%) and favorable weather vs 2021

1 Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom. 2 Terawatt-hours. 3 January to September 2021. 4 January to September 2022. Source: Ember; European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E); Fraunhofer; International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); National Grid; McKinsey analysis

McKinsey & Company

homes, for instance, are both up by more than 30 percent, while demand for electricity in iron and steel manufacturing is up 17 percent. 5 As a result, Europe faces the real possibility of shortages in dispatchable power—sources that are critical for balancing loads across the power system and ensuring there is enough electricity available at times of peak demand. To avoid this

mix. That proportion dropped to 15 to 20 percent in 2022 and is likely to decline further this year. 4

At the same time, demand for electricity continues to increase because of decarbonization and electrification throughout various sectors. These structural trends mean that Europeans are using more electricity than ever. Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) and electric heat pumps for buildings and

4 McKinsey Energy Insights’ EU PipeFlow and LNGFlow; Cedigaz. 5 EV sales are from the first half of 2021 compared with the first half of 2022 and include sales from the European Free Trade Association, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. Heat pump sales include 21 European markets; sales are 2020 compared with 2021. Iron and steel demand includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Industry demand considers 2020 compared with 2021. European Heat Pump Association; EV-Volumes; IHS Markit (light vehicle sales forecast July 2022).

Accelerating the journey to net zero

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