Photo: Ember
Wind and solar have reached a combined share of 30% of electricity generation in the European Union in the first six months of 2024. It means that, for the first time, the two renewable energy sources together surpassed fossil fuels, which came in at 27%.
The European Union’s energy transition maintained its pace in the first six months of this year, according to the Ember think thank. Wind and solar power generation grew and the share of fossil fuels fell.
The report points to the decline in the fossil fuel segment despite the recovery of electricity demand from the impacts of the gas price crisis.
Ember analyzed the developments in the EU’s power sector in the first half to measure the progress of its clean energy transition.
Fossil fuels generated 17% less power in the first half of 2024 than in same period of last year
The reliance on fossil fuel generation reached an all-time low, even though electricity demand rebounded by 0.7% year over year, picking up for the first time after two years of declines, while power prices returned to precrisis levels, the report reads.
Fossil fuels generated 17% or 71 TWh less in the first half of 2024 than in the same period of 2023. Their share dropped to 27% (343 TWh). In particular, coal plant output fell by 24% or 39 TWh while electricity generated from gas came in 14% (29 TWh) under the level measured in the first half of last year, the data showed.
Ember stressed that the momentum behind the clean energy transition is spreading: almost half of EU member states generated more electricity from wind and solar than from fossil fuels in the first six months of 2024.
Wind and solar surpassed fossil generation in thirteen member states
Wind and solar accounted for 30% (386 TWh) of the EU’s electricity production in the observed period. Together, wind and solar surpassed fossil generation in thirteen member states. This year four of them hit the milestone for the first time in the first six months: Germany, Belgium, Hungary and the Netherlands.
“Sustaining the EU’s electricity transition at this pace will require dedicated policy focus to ease barriers to wind and solar integration. Adequate support on grid connections and other enablers of swift development will be needed to ensure that economic, security and climate benefits are delivered across Europe,” the update adds.
The first half of the year highlighted fossil generation’s narrowing role in the power sector as well as gains for renewables that are beyond temporary variations in conditions, said Ember’s Senior Energy and Climate Data Analyst Chris Rosslowe.
“We are witnessing a historic shift and it is happening rapidly. If member states can keep up momentum on wind and solar deployment, then freedom from fossil power reliance will truly start to come into view,” he said.
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