EU Wind & Solar Outpace Fossil Generation For The First Time

Consequently, CO2 emissions in power generation dropped 17% in January-June compared to the same period last year, the Ember report said. Solar and wind accounted for 30% (386 TWh) of the EU’s electricity generation, surpassing fossil fuels which fell to a record low of 27% (343 TWh) in January-June.

Despite electricity demand rising 1% or 9 TWh year on year, coal generation plummeted by 24% or 39 TWh and gas generation fell by 14% or 29 TWh. At the same time, hydropower output rose 21% or 33 TWh.

Ember pointed out that relatively mild weather had suppressed electricity demand and that the boost in hydropower and renewables all contributed to reducing fossil fuel generation.

Wind and solar surpassed fossil generation in 13 member states, with four – Germany, Belgium, Hungary and the Netherlands – hitting the milestone for the first time this year over January-June. In Italy, fossil generation fell by 21% or 14 TWh, split evenly between coal and gas. Large declines in gas generation led to reduced fossil fuel use in Spain, France, and Belgium. In Spain, coal generation is nearly phased out, and wind and solar are displacing gas, which fell 34% in the first half of 2024.

Permanent Shift

Following record-breaking capacity additions for wind and solar (74.2 GW) in 2023, triggered by the EU’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this shift is not just a seasonal trend, said Ember. Member states have accelerated policies to reduce gas imports and boost renewable energy deployment, particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, falling solar panel costs have also helped to sustain deployment, Ember said. Europe’s wind and solar associations – Wind Europe and SolarPower Europe – expected new wind and solar capacity to total 15.8 GW and 62 GW, respectively, in 2024.

Under these scenarios, wind and solar generation would still exceed fossil generation in H1 of 2025, even with hydropower at its lowest in five years and the fastest EU electricity demand growth in that period, Ember said.

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