Solar energy surpasses coal in EU electricity production
Solar energy has surpassed coal in the EU’s electricity production, with renewables now making up nearly half of the bloc’s power sector in 2024, according to a report released Thursday.
The European Electricity Review 2025 by climate think tank Ember has revealed that gas generation in the EU has fallen for the fifth consecutive year, with fossil-fuelled power reaching a “historic low.”
The report said that the European Green Deal is driving this transformation of the EU power sector.
In 2024, solar energy became the fastest-growing power source in the EU, surpassing coal for the first time. Wind power remains the second-largest source, outpacing gas but still trailing behind nuclear.
The share of renewables in the EU’s energy mix rose to 47%, up from 34% in 2019, while fossil fuel reliance dropped from 39% to 29%.
The decline in fossil generation is largely due to the surge in wind and solar. Without the expansion of these resources since 2019, the EU would have needed an additional 92 billion cubic meters of gas and 55 million metric tons of coal, costing an estimated €59 billion.
Many EU countries have either eliminated coal or reduced its share to below 5%.
The report’s lead author, Chris Rosslowe, noted, “Fossil fuels are losing their grip on EU energy,” highlighting the unexpected pace of the transition.
Rosslowe cautioned that more work is needed, especially in wind power. Increased storage capacity is essential to optimize the use of intermittent renewables. In 2024, abundant solar energy led to significantly reduced electricity prices, with instances of “negative or zero price hours.”
Co-locating batteries with solar plants could give producers better pricing control. Consumers are encouraged to shift energy usage to times of surplus, while battery operators can profit by buying low and selling high.
Battery storage capacity in the EU doubled to 16 GW in 2023, though this growth is concentrated in a few countries, primarily Germany and Italy. Ember stresses the need for more storage and demand flexibility to maximize benefits from solar energy.
While wind power additions are expected to grow, they may not meet EU targets. Achieving these goals will require ongoing policy support and political commitment, with a call for a rate of additions more than double that of recent years as the EU approaches its renewable energy objectives by 2030.
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