– Fossil fuels produced less than a quarter of the EU’s electricity for the first time in April 2024
– Solar and wind reached a record 27% of the EU’s electricity mix in 2023
– Wind and solar generated more than a third (34%) of EU electricity in April 2024, beating the previous record
In April 2024, fossil fuels produced less than a quarter of the EU’s electricity for the first time, marking a decline from previous years. The use of coal-fired power generation and gas saw a significant decrease, with renewables like wind and solar reaching record levels of production, accounting for more than half of the EU’s electricity mix. In contrast, fossil fuel generation dropped by 24%, with coal contributing just 8.6% and gas 12.1% to the electricity mix.
Germany and Italy experienced the largest declines in fossil fuel generation among EU countries, with Germany leading the decrease. Sarah Brown, from Ember, noted that solar and wind power are becoming the main players in Europe’s power sector, signaling a shift away from fossil fuels. Despite recent disruptions in gas supplies, experts like Andy Brogan from EY believe that Europe is still on track with its coal-fired power phase-out. While there may be delays in the transition, the trajectory towards phasing out coal remains unchanged.