Highlights

• For the first time in the first half of 2024, wind and solar beat fossil fuels in the EU for electricity generation.
• Wind and solar reached 30% of the EU's electricity generation, while fossil fuels dropped to 27%, decreasing by 17%.
• Several EU countries, including Germany, Belgium, Hungary and the Netherlands, generated more electricity from wind and solar than fossil fuels for the first time.

A new analysis by Ember shows that wind and solar generated more electricity than fossil fuels in the EU in the first half of 2024 for the first time.

Wind and solar energy hit a record 30% of the EU’s electricity, above the 27% from fossil fuels, which were down 17%. Despite a 0.7% increase in electricity demand from the previous year (post-Covid and gas price crisis), coal was down 24% and gas 14%. The increase in renewables, particularly wind and solar, was the main driver of this shift, outpacing demand growth and replacing fossil fuels.

“With wind and solar on the rise, the role of fossil fuel power is narrowing,” said Ember analyst Dr. Chris Rosslowe. “We are witnessing a historic shift in the power sector, and it is happening rapidly.”

Ember’s research shows that the decline in fossil fuel generation was also helped by good weather and strong hydro. But the main driver was the growth in wind and solar, following record capacity additions in 2023.

In response to geopolitical tensions (Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), the EU and many Member States have implemented policies to reduce gas imports and increase wind and solar capacity.

“If Member States can keep momentum up on wind and solar deployment then freedom from fossil power reliance will truly start to come into view,“ said Dr. Chris Rosslowe.

This is happening across the EU. Thirteen Member States now generate more electricity from wind and solar than fossil fuels, with Germany, Belgium, Hungary and the Netherlands for the first time.

In May, over 50% of Spain’s electricity came from wind and solar, a new record. Poland also set a new record with a third of its electricity from wind and solar in the same month. Hungary had three consecutive months of record solar in April, May and June 2024.

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Source: Ember