EU fossil generation below 25% for the first month ever

In April 2024, the share of EU electricity generation from fossil fuels fell to its lowest point for a single month. Coal, gas and other fossil fuels produced less than a quarter of the EU’s electricity (23%). The previous record low was 27% in May 2023. 

Last year fossil fuels generated less than a third of the EU’s electricity (33%) for the first time, according to Ember’s European Electricity Review. The decline in fossil fuels has continued to gather pace in 2024. 

Generation from fossil fuels in April 2024 was down 14.8 TWh (-24%) compared to April 2023. As a result, EU fossil generation reached its lowest monthly level, at 46 TWh. 

Both coal and gas fell sharply. Coal generation provided just 8.6% of the EU’s electricity mix in April 2024, its lowest share ever. It fell 7.3 TWh (-30%) compared to April 2023, when coal provided 12.3% of EU electricity.

Gas generation made up 12.1% of the EU’s electricity mix in April 2024, its lowest share in at least eight years. It fell 6.8 TWh (-22%) compared to April 2023, when gas provided 15.6% of EU electricity.

The low fossil generation also meant record low monthly power sector emissions in April 2024, at 38 million tonnes of CO2 (MtCO2). This is down 10% from the previous record set in May 2023 of 42 MtCO2.

Declines in fossil generation were recorded across the region. Germany saw the largest fall compared to April last year, at 4.8 TWh (-26%), representing 32% of the total EU fall. Seven lignite-fired power plant units with a combined capacity of 3.1 gigawatts were closed in Germany at the end of March 2024. Italy was next, with a 2.2 TWh (-24%) fall, contributing another 15% to the total EU decline.

Wind and solar reached a record high in April 2024, generating more than a third (34%) of EU electricity for the first time. The previous record of 31% was set in May 2023. 

Last year wind and solar generated 27% of the EU’s electricity, for the first time surpassing a quarter, according to Ember’s European Electricity Review. The growth in wind and solar has continued to gather pace in 2024. 

Wind and solar not only achieved their largest ever share of generation in April 2024, but also the highest total monthly output with 68 TWh, more than the entire annual electricity demand of Czechia or Austria. This was more than double the electricity generated from hydro in the EU, which produced 32 TWh. As a result, wind and solar accounted for 62% of all renewable generation in April 2024.

Overall, renewable sources produced over half of EU electricity in April for only the second time ever, and achieved a record 54% share. Following heat waves and droughts in previous years, hydropower output rose 28% (+6.9 TWh) compared to April 2023, increasing its share from 12.3% in April 2023 to 15.7% in April 2024.

The records set in April are the latest evidence of a long-term trend of increasing clean generation and falling emissions in the EU. For the first four months of 2024, EU fossil generation is down 18% year-on-year.

The decline in fossil generation came despite the continued recovery of electricity demand, which has been on a mild revival since October 2023 and increased by 0.4% year-on-year over January-April 2023. Meanwhile, wind and solar generation was up 14% compared to the same period last year, with hydro generation increasing 25%.