In 2024, solar generated 11% of EU electricity, overtaking coal which fell below 10% for the first time, according to the European Electricity Review published today (Jan 23) by think tank Ember. EU gas generation declined for the fifth year in a row and total fossil generation fell to a historic low.
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO at SolarPower Europe, said: "This milestone is about more than just climate action; it is a cornerstone of European energy security and industrial competitiveness. Renewables are steadily pushing fossil fuels to the margins, with solar leading the way. We now need more flexibility to kick-in, making sure the energy system is adapting to new realities: more storage and more smart electrification in heating, transport and industries."
"Fossil fuels are losing their grip on EU energy," said Dr Chris Rosslowe, senior analyst and lead author of the report. "At the start of the European Green Deal in 2019, few thought the EU's energy transition could be where it is today; wind and solar are pushing coal to the margins and forcing gas into structural decline."
The EU power sector is undergoing a deep transformation, spurred on by the European Green Deal. Solar generation (11%) overtook coal (10%) for the first time in 2024, as wind (17%) generated more electricity than gas (16%) for the second year in a row. Strong solar growth, combined with a recovery of hydropower, pushed the share of renewables to nearly half of EU power generation (47%). Fossil fuels generated 29% of the EU's electricity in 2024. In 2019, before the Green Deal, fossil fuels provided 39% of EU electricity while renewables provided 34%.
The surge in wind and solar generation has reduced the EU's reliance on imported fossil fuels and its exposure to volatile prices since the energy crisis. Ember's analysis found that without new wind and solar capacity added over the last five years, the EU would have imported an additional 92 billion cubic metres of fossil gas and 55 million tonnes of coal, costing 59 billion.
The European Electricity Review published today by global energy think tank Ember provides the first comprehensive overview of the EU power system in 2024. It analyses full-year electricity generation and demand data for 2024 in all EU-27 countries to understand the region's progress in transitioning from fossil fuels to clean electricity.
