Title: Half of Europe's Electricity is Going Green!
The EU's drive towards sustainable energy generation, spearheaded by the Green Deal, has shown remarkable progress. Over the past year, we've witnessed a notable improvement, with solar power surpassing coal for the first time, pushing coal's share to less than 10%.
According to Ember's study, this shift in the power mix is a testament to the Green Deal's impact. Coal-fuelled electricity generation dropped to its lowest level ever, while gas-fired power production saw a fifth consecutive year of decline, accounting for around 16% of the total. Other fossil fuels like oil and waste combined for approximately 29% of the EU's electricity generation.
Solar power, now providing about 11% of the EU's electricity, witnessed a remarkable increase of over 20% compared to 2023. Europe-wide, renewable energy sources contributed to nearly half (47.5%) of electricity generation in 2024, with solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass playing significant roles.
Chris Rosslowe, an analyst at Ember, noted, "Fossil fuels are losing their grip on the EU's energy supply." Beatrice Petrovich, co-author of the report, added, "Coal, the oldest form of electricity generation, is now being replaced by the rising star – solar energy."
Analyzing data from all 27 EU countries, Ember revealed that the EU's power sector is rapidly transforming, with fossil fuels losing traction. The Green Deal, a package of measures and laws put forward in 2019, aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions across sectors like energy, transport, industry, and agriculture.
[Enrichment Data, if applied:]
- Solar Power Overtaking Coal: Solar power's rise has been consistent. In 2024, it surpassed coal for the first time, supplying 11% of the EU's electricity, compared to coal's 9.3% in 2023.[1][3][5]
- Solar Capacity Expansion: The EU's solar capacity increased by almost 60% by 2023 compared to pre-war levels (up from 164 GW in 2020 to 260 GW).[2]
- Fossil Fuel Decline: Fossil fuel generation has been on a downward trend. In 2024, their share in the EU's electricity mix dropped to 29%, down from 39% before the Green Deal.[1][5]
- Renewable Energy Boom: The share of renewable energy sources in the EU's power sector has grown significantly, reaching nearly half (47%) of total electricity generation, up from 34% in 2019.[1][5]
- Green Deal Impact: The European Green Deal has instigated a deep and rapid transformation of the EU's power sector, pushing fossil fuels to the margins and forcing gas into structural decline.[1][5]
Overall, the EU's energy transition under the Green Deal has resulted in a paradigm shift towards renewable energy sources, with solar and wind power leading the charge, while fossil fuels fall into historical low usage.
The EU's remarkable progress in sustainable energy generation, primarily driven by the Green Deal, has led to coal-fuelled electricity generation reaching its lowest ever level. As a result, coal is being replaced by the rising star of electricity generation, solar energy.
