Photo voltaic generated 11% of EU electrical energy in 2024, overtaking coal which fell beneath 10% for the primary time, in accordance with the European Electrical energy Evaluation printed at the moment by suppose tank Ember.
EU fuel technology declined for the fifth 12 months in a row, and whole fossil technology fell to a historic low.
“Fossil fuels are shedding their grip on EU vitality,” mentioned Dr Chris Rosslowe, senior analyst and lead writer of the report. “Firstly of the European Inexperienced Deal in 2019, few thought the EU’s vitality transition could possibly be the place it’s at the moment; wind and photo voltaic are pushing coal to the margins and forcing fuel into structural decline.”
The European Electrical energy Evaluation printed at the moment by world vitality suppose tank Ember gives the first complete overview of the EU energy system in 2024. It analyzes full-year electrical energy technology and demand knowledge for 2024 in all EU-27 nations to know the area’s progress in transitioning from fossil fuels to wash electrical energy.
Wind and photo voltaic proceed their meteoric rise within the EU
The EU energy sector is present process a deep transformation spurred on by the European Inexperienced Deal. Photo voltaic technology (11%) overtook coal (10%) for the primary time in 2024, as wind (17%) generated extra electrical energy than fuel (16%) for the second 12 months in a row.
Sturdy photo voltaic development, mixed with a restoration of hydropower, pushed the share of renewables to just about half of EU energy technology (47%). Fossil fuels generated 29% of the EU’s electrical energy in 2024. In 2019, earlier than the Inexperienced Deal, fossil fuels supplied 39% of EU electrical energy, whereas renewables supplied 34%.
Photo voltaic is rising in each EU nation and greater than half now have both no coal energy or a share beneath 5% of their energy combine. Coal has fallen from being the EU’s third-largest energy supply in 2019 to the sixth-largest in 2024, bringing the top into sight for the dirtiest fossil gasoline. EU fuel technology additionally declined for the fifth 12 months in a row (-6%) regardless of a really small rebound in energy demand (+1%).
The EU is reaping the advantages of decreased fossil gasoline dependency
The surge in wind and photo voltaic technology has decreased the EU’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and its publicity to risky costs for the reason that vitality disaster. Ember’s evaluation discovered that with out new wind and photo voltaic capability added over the past 5 years, the EU would have imported a further 92 billion cubic meters of fossil fuel and 55 million tonnes of coal, costing €59 billion.
“Whereas the EU’s electrical energy transition has moved quicker than anybody anticipated within the final 5 years, additional progress can’t be taken without any consideration,” continued Rosslowe. “Supply must be accelerated significantly within the wind sector, which has confronted distinctive challenges and a widening supply hole. Between now and 2030, annual wind additions must greater than double in comparison with 2024 ranges. Nonetheless, the achievements of the previous 5 years ought to instil confidence that, with continued drive and dedication, challenges could be overcome and a safer vitality future be achieved.”
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe mentioned: “This milestone is about extra than simply local weather motion; it’s a cornerstone of European vitality safety and industrial competitiveness. Renewables are steadily pushing fossil fuels to the margins, with photo voltaic main the way in which. We now want extra flexibility to kick-in, ensuring the vitality system is adapting to new realities: extra storage and extra good electrification in heating, transport and industries.”
Learn extra: China put in a file capability of photo voltaic and wind in 2024 – in numbers
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