Green Forum • 23 January, 2025 at 8:52 PM
In 2024, photovoltaic energy surpassed coal in electricity generation across the European Union for the first time in history, with renewables now accounting for nearly half of the electricity produced by the 27 member states, according to a report released by the Ember think tank.
At the same time, natural gas-based electricity production "fell for the fifth consecutive year, and total fossil fuel-based electricity generation reached a historic low," the report states.
"Fossil fuels are losing their grip on EU energy," said Chris Rosslowe, the report's lead author. "Back in 2019, at the start of the European Green Deal, few believed the energy transition would be where it is today: wind and solar are replacing coal and driving gas into a structural decline," he added.
Overall, strong growth in solar energy and a rebound in hydroelectric power have pushed the share of renewables to 47% of electricity production in the EU, up from 34% in 2019, according to the 'European Electricity Review' report. Meanwhile, fossil fuels' share has dropped to 29%, down from 39% in 2019.
The report highlights that these trends are evident across Europe, with solar energy making progress in all EU countries, and more than half of member states either phasing out coal or reducing its share to less than 5% of their energy mix.