Wind and solar generated more EU electricity than fossil fuels in 2025 according to the European Electricity Review published last week by think tank Ember.

The review analysed full-year electricity generation and demand data for 2025 in all EU-27 countries to understand the region’s progress in transitioning from fossil fuels to clean electricity. The new figures reveal that wind and solar generated a record 30% of EU power, ahead of fossil fuels at 29%.

In explanatory comment contained in Ember’s associated press release, analysts say wind and solar overtaking fossil fuels in 2025 can be largely attributed to a staggering rise in solar power. Solar grew by more than a fifth (+20.1%) for the fourth year running, generating a record 13% of EU power in 2025, above both coal and hydro.

Moreover, the trend was widespread: all EU countries saw growth in solar generation compared to the year before, amid a huge expansion in EU solar installations. Solar provided more than a fifth of electricity in Hungary, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, and the Netherlands.

Renewables provided nearly half of EU power (48%) as unusual weather conditions caused hydro generation to fall by 12% and wind by 2%, but boosted solar generation. Wind remained the second largest EU electricity source at 17% of EU power, generating more than gas.

According to Ember’s experts, signs of a structural shift are clear across the EU, as wind and solar generated more electricity than all fossil sources in 14 of the 27 EU countries in 2025. Over the past five years, wind and solar have experienced massive growth (from 20% in 2020 to 30% in 2025). Fossil fuels have fallen from 37% to 29% in the same period, while hydro and nuclear remained stable or declined slightly.

Gas generation rose by 8% in 2025, largely due to reduced hydro output. However, gas remains in long-term decline in the EU and in 2025 it was still 18% below its most recent 2019 peak. Coal also continued its decline, falling to a new historic low of 9.2% in 2025. Just ten years prior it provided nearly a quarter of EU power. In 19 EU countries, coal power is at zero or less than 5%. Coal fell even in the EU’s biggest coal countries, Germany and Poland, dropping to an all-time low in both cases.

Download the full report here.