Photo voltaic generated 11% of EU electrical energy in 2024, overtaking coal which fell beneath 10% for the primary time, based on the European Electrical energy Overview revealed right this moment by assume tank Ember.
EU gasoline era declined for the fifth yr in a row, and whole fossil era fell to a historic low.
“Fossil fuels are dropping their grip on EU vitality,” stated Dr Chris Rosslowe, senior analyst and lead writer of the report. “At the beginning of the European Inexperienced Deal in 2019, few thought the EU’s vitality transition may very well be the place it’s right this moment; wind and photo voltaic are pushing coal to the margins and forcing gasoline into structural decline.”
The European Electrical energy Overview revealed right this moment by world vitality assume tank Ember offers the first complete overview of the EU energy system in 2024. It analyzes full-year electrical energy era and demand knowledge for 2024 in all EU-27 international locations to know the area’s progress in transitioning from fossil fuels to scrub electrical energy.
Wind and photo voltaic proceed their meteoric rise within the EU
The EU energy sector is present process a deep transformation spurred on by the European Inexperienced Deal. Photo voltaic era (11%) overtook coal (10%) for the primary time in 2024, as wind (17%) generated extra electrical energy than gasoline (16%) for the second yr in a row.
Robust photo voltaic development, mixed with a restoration of hydropower, pushed the share of renewables to almost half of EU energy era (47%). Fossil fuels generated 29% of the EU’s electrical energy in 2024. In 2019, earlier than the Inexperienced Deal, fossil fuels offered 39% of EU electrical energy, whereas renewables offered 34%.
Photo voltaic is rising in each EU nation and greater than half now have both no coal energy or a share beneath 5% of their energy combine. Coal has fallen from being the EU’s third-largest energy supply in 2019 to the sixth-largest in 2024, bringing the top into sight for the dirtiest fossil gas. EU gasoline era additionally declined for the fifth yr in a row (-6%) regardless of a really small rebound in energy demand (+1%).
The EU is reaping the advantages of decreased fossil gas dependency
The surge in wind and photo voltaic era has decreased the EU’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and its publicity to unstable costs because the vitality disaster. Ember’s evaluation discovered that with out new wind and photo voltaic capability added during the last 5 years, the EU would have imported an extra 92 billion cubic meters of fossil gasoline and 55 million tonnes of coal, costing €59 billion.
“Whereas the EU’s electrical energy transition has moved sooner than anybody anticipated within the final 5 years, additional progress can’t be taken as a right,” continued Rosslowe. “Supply must be accelerated notably within the wind sector, which has confronted distinctive challenges and a widening supply hole. Between now and 2030, annual wind additions must greater than double in comparison with 2024 ranges. Nonetheless, the achievements of the previous 5 years ought to instil confidence that, with continued drive and dedication, challenges will be overcome and a safer vitality future be achieved.”
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe stated: “This milestone is about extra than simply local weather motion; it’s a cornerstone of European vitality safety and industrial competitiveness. Renewables are steadily pushing fossil fuels to the margins, with photo voltaic main the way in which. We now want extra flexibility to kick-in, ensuring the vitality system is adapting to new realities: extra storage and extra good electrification in heating, transport and industries.”
Learn extra: China put in a report capability of photo voltaic and wind in 2024 – in numbers
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