The latest European Electricity Review report from energy think tank Ember has shown that 47% of the European Union’s energy comes from renewable sources, with solar taking the lead over coal in the energy mix for the first time.
According to Ember’s report, solar energy contributed 11% to the EU’s energy mix in 2024, which both improved on 2023’s figure of 9.3% and overtook coal’s share.
Coal fell to under 10% of the EU’s energy mix – a first since the think tank began sharing the electricity mix figures in 2011.
Additionally, Gas-fired power production’s share fell to 15.7% from its 2023 figure of 16.9%. This marks the second year wherein renewable energy sources, including solar, generated more power than gas.
The EU has been making efforts to reduce its reliance on coal and increase its use of renewable energy sources. In doing so, the Union hopes to reduce emissions, improve energy security, and meet international climate goals.
Chris Rosslowe, Senior Analyst and lead author of the report, notes: “For the past two years we have seen sharp declines in both coal and gas in the EU power system and fossil fuels are now at a historic low.
“Fossil fuels are losing their grip on EU energy.”
However, Rosslowe additionally addressed the reasons behind wind’s stagnated figure of 17.4% in 2024 – below the EU’s goal of wind contributing a 34% share by 2030.
He says: “The new capacity added this year was slightly offset by the worse wind conditions.”
Overall, nuclear power production maintained its dominance, increasing marginally to a 23.7% share.
