On the first six months of 2024, 13 countries of Europe Member States have produced more energy from wind and SOLAR than from fossil fuels
For the first time, wind and solar generated more of the EU’s electricity than fossil fuels in the first half of this year.
A new analysis from energy think tank Ember has found that electricity from wind and solar grew to an all-time high of 30 per cent in the last six months compared to 27 per cent from fossil fuels. The remaining 43 per cent was made up by a mix of hydropower, nuclear and other sources.
Electricity generated from fossil fuels dropped by 17 percent during the same period, despite demand recovering from the gas price crisis. The EU’s continued strong expansion of wind and solar power outpaced this rebound in demand.
Wind and solar have now overtaken fossil fuels in 13 EU member states: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden.
Together these countries make up 70 per cent of the EU’s total electricity demand, with the remaining 30 per cent spread across 14 states. Just five years ago, it was just four countries out of 27 which generated more electricity from wind and solar than fossil fuels which were responsible for only 20 per cent of the bloc’s electricity demand.
Belgium, Germany, Hungary, and the Netherlands reached this milestone for the first time during the first six months of 2024.
Five countries were responsible for three-quarters of the reduction in EU fossil fuel generation in the first half of 2024: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Germany saw the most significant decline, with coal generation falling by more than a quarter.
Other countries also achieved important renewable energy milestones in the past six months. In May, over half of Spain’s electricity came from wind and solar for the first time. During the same month, Poland generated a third of its electricity from wind and solar. Hungary also set new records for solar generation in April, May, and June of this year.
Source: Frost, R. ‘Freedom from fossil power’: Wind and solar electricity grew to all-time high in first half of 2024. Euronews.