EU wind and solar overtake fossil fuels

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Just a decade ago, the idea of Europe running on mostly wind and solar power seemed like a distant dream – more of a utopian vision than a realistic path forward. There was lots of talk, but not a lot of action.

Fossil fuels still ruled the grid, and skeptics questioned whether renewables could ever be reliable or scalable enough to power entire nations. Spain’s vast sun-soaked plains and Poland’s windy coastlines were largely untapped resources, their potential sitting idle while coal plants and gas turbines did the heavy lifting.

This is no longer the case. Wind and solar power have become a major source of electricity across the European Union, signalling a significant shift in the first half of 2024 towards sustainable energy. Europe’s efforts to meet climate goals are paying off, driven by years of careful planning and investment. It’s also about economics – renewable energy infrastructure is also cheaper to construct and run, and has become a valuable part of the overall energy mix in Europe for power companies.

The statistics are striking: in the first six months of 2024, wind and solar energy provided 30 percent (386 TWh) of the EU's electricity, overtaking fossil fuels, which accounted for just 27 percent (343 TWh).

This shift isn't limited to a few leading nations; thirteen EU countries, making up 70 percent of the bloc’s electricity demand, now generate more power from wind and solar than from fossil fuels – a big leap from only five countries five years ago. For the first time, Germany, Belgium, Hungary and the Netherlands have joined this group. Spain set a new record in May, with over 50 percent of its electricity coming from wind and solar, while Poland hit 33 percent. Hungary’s solar industry also stood out, breaking production records for three months in a row.

Source: Ember

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