Historic milestone: Solar energy overtakes coal in the EU

The year 2024 marked a turning point for the clean energy transition in Europe. The share of solar energy in the European Union's (EU) electricity generation has surpassed that of coal.

According to the European Electricity Review report by the London-based international energy think tank Ember, the EU's electricity sector is undergoing a profound transformation under the European Green Deal.

While the share of solar energy in the EU's electricity generation reached 11 percent last year, the share of coal fell below 10 percent for the first time. Thus, for the first time in 2024, the share of solar energy in the EU's electricity generation has overtaken coal.

The share of wind energy in electricity generation stood at 17 percent, while natural gas accounted for 16 percent.

With strong growth in solar energy and a recovery in hydroelectric production, the EU generated 47 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources last year.

The total share of fossil fuels in electricity generation was 29 percent. The remainder of production was met by other sources, including nuclear energy.

Before the Green Deal in 2019, the share of fossil fuels in the EU's electricity generation was calculated at 39 percent, and the share of renewable sources at 34 percent.

EU'S CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENTS CONTINUE

Furthermore, according to the report, the share of solar energy in electricity generation increased in all EU countries. However, in about half of the EU countries, solar energy continued to lag behind coal.

Coal was the EU's third-largest source of electricity generation in 2019. Electricity generation from natural gas in the EU has also continued its downward trend for the fifth consecutive year.

Ember calculated that the EU has saved 59 billion dollars in fossil fuel imports with the new wind and solar energy capacity added over the last 5 years.

Ember Senior Analyst and lead author of the report Chris Rosslowe stated that the EU has significantly reduced electricity generation from coal through solar and wind energy and that gas usage has entered a structural decline, noting the following:

'The EU's electricity transition process has progressed faster than expected over the last 5 years, but we cannot take further development for granted. Delivery needs to be accelerated, particularly in the wind sector, which is facing unique challenges and a growing delivery gap. By 2030, annual additional wind energy installations need to be more than double the 2024 levels.'

Rosslowe also noted that the achievements made over the last 5 years should inspire confidence for the future.

Ember Senior Analyst Chris Rosslowe