Solar Energy Surpasses Coal in EU Electricity Production, Renewables Reach Historic Milestone
Rosslowe emphasized that more work is needed, particularly in wind power.
ISLAMABAD: Solar energy has officially surpassed coal in the European Union’s electricity production, marking a significant shift in the region’s energy landscape. According to the European Electricity Review 2025 by climate think tank Ember, renewables now account for nearly half of the EU’s power sector, reaching 47% in 2024, up from 34% in 2019. This marks a historic low for fossil fuel reliance, which has decreased from 39% to 29%.
The report highlights that the EU’s transition to renewable energy is being driven by the European Green Deal, with solar energy emerging as the fastest-growing power source. Wind power remains the second-largest source, surpassing gas, though it still lags behind nuclear energy.
Gas generation in the EU has decreased for the fifth consecutive year, and fossil-fuelled power has reached a “historic low.” The shift away from fossil fuels has been largely attributed to the surge in wind and solar power. The report suggests that without these resources, the EU would have required an additional 92 billion cubic meters of gas and 55 million metric tons of coal, which would have cost an estimated €59 billion.
Several EU countries have either phased out coal entirely or reduced its share to below 5%. According to Ember’s lead author, Chris Rosslowe, “Fossil fuels are losing their grip on EU energy,” noting the rapid pace of the transition.
However, Rosslowe emphasized that more work is needed, particularly in wind power. He also stressed the importance of expanding storage capacity to optimize the use of intermittent renewable energy sources. In 2024, the abundance of solar energy led to significantly reduced electricity prices, with instances of “negative or zero price hours.”
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Battery storage capacity in the EU doubled to 16 GW in 2023, mainly concentrated in Germany and Italy. Ember urged for further development of storage systems and demand flexibility to maximize the benefits of solar energy. While wind power is expected to grow, additional policy support and political commitment will be essential to meet EU renewable energy targets by 2030.
