Countries in the European Union added a total of 5.8 Gigawatts (GW) of solar power in 2009, which is 21 percent of all the new energy installed there last year. And more than half—62 percent—of all new electricity installed there last year was renewable. This makes the E.U. the worldwide leader in installing clean energy sources in 2009. That’s according to European Commission Joint Research Centre’s June 2010 report “Renewable Energy Snapshots 2010.”

In 2009, a total of 27.5 GW of new electric power was installed in Europe. In addition to photovoltaic (PV) growth, wind power comprised 38 percent or 10.2 GW of new power. It was the single most developed European electricity resource in 2009. The report did not consider hydropower or electricity produced by burning waste renewable.

Another 3 percent of all new electric power installed in European countries was also renewable energy. Concentrated solar power plants, things like solar troughs and towers, made up another .4 percent of new power in Europe.

Concentrated solar power has seen the most rapid resurgence over the past few years, “from negligible activity to over 2 GW,” the report observed. It also looked forward into concentrated solar power growth and found that in the United States, 14.5 GW of it is expected to enter the market between 2010 and 2014. Spain will lead Europe in concentrated solar development with about 2.4 GW already planned to come on line by 2015.

In terms of installed photovoltaics, the Europe had the most in the world at the end of 2009, 16 GW of the 22 GW. The report found that its PV market’s capacity doubled compared to 2008 and asserted that 10 gigawatts will likely be installed in 2010. Germany is leading and will continue to lead the European Union in terms of photovoltaic installations—and in spite of economic trouble, Europe continues to invest in its renewable-energy infrastructure.