• Solar overtakes coal as EU power source in 2024

    Date posted:

    • Post Author

      Tracey Biller
  • In 2024, solar generated 11% of EU electricity, overtaking coal which fell below 10% for the first time. This is according to the European Electricity Review published last week by think tank Ember. EU gas generation declined for the fifth year in a row (-6%), despite a very small rebound in power demand (+1%), and total fossil generation fell to a historic low.

    The review analyses full-year electricity generation and demand data for 2024 in all EU-27 countries to understand the region’s progress in transitioning from fossil fuels to clean electricity.

    Indications that the EU is reaping the benefits of reduced fossil fuel dependency include the finding that in 2024, wind (17%) generated more electricity than gas (16%) for the second year in a row. Ember says the surge in wind and solar generation has reduced the EU’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and its exposure to volatile prices since the energy crisis: without new wind and solar capacity added over the last five years, the EU would have imported an additional 92 billion cubic metres of fossil gas and 55 million tonnes of coal, costing €59 billion.

    Strong solar growth, combined with a recovery of hydropower, pushed the share of renewables to nearly half of EU power generation (47%). Fossil fuels generated 29% of the EU’s electricity in 2024. In 2019, before the Green Deal, fossil fuels provided 39% of EU electricity while renewables provided 34%.

    Coal has fallen from being the EU’s third largest power source in 2019 to the sixth largest in 2024.

    Download the European Electricity Review here.

    • Search
    Year