Wind and solar overtake EU fossil fuel power for the first time for the first half of the year

  • Brussels

  • 30 July 2024

New analysis from think tank Ember reveals that wind and solar generated more electricity than fossil fuels during the first six months of 2024 for the first time ever in a half year period.

Wind and solar grew to an all time high of 30% of the EU’s electricity in the first half of the year. This compared to 27% from fossil fuels, which fell by 17%. 

The fall in fossil fuels happened even as electricity demand recovered from the impacts of Covid and the gas price crisis, rising 0.7% compared to last year. Despite this, coal saw a sharp drop by nearly a quarter (-24%), and gas fell by 14%. Growth in renewables, particularly wind and solar, was the primary driver of this as their growth outpaced the rebound in demand to replace fossil power as well.

“With wind and solar on the rise, the role of fossil fuel power is narrowing,” said Ember analyst Dr. Chris Rosslowe. “We are witnessing a historic shift in the power sector, and it is happening rapidly.”

Renewables growth goes beyond seasonal trends

Ember’s analysis found that mild weather and good hydro performance also contributed to the large fall in fossil generation, but that wind and solar growth was the largest single factor. 

This reflects a longer term shift, following record-breaking capacity additions for both wind and solar in 2023. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU and many Member States have introduced accelerated policies to reduce reliance on gas imports and boost wind and solar. A continued focus on this from the EU is now anticipated following Ursula von der Leyen’s confirmation as President of the European Commission.

“If Member States can keep momentum up on wind and solar deployment then freedom from fossil power reliance will truly start to come into view, “ added Dr. Chris Rosslowe.

New milestones across the EU

The rapid growth of wind and solar was visible across EU countries in the first half of the year. Thirteen Member States now generate more electricity from wind and solar than from fossil fuels, with Germany, Belgium, Hungary and the Netherlands hitting that milestone for the first time.

In May, over 50% of Spain’s electricity generation came from wind and solar, the first time this has ever happened. In the same month, Poland hit a third of generation coming from wind and solar, also for the first time. Hungary set consecutive monthly records for solar generation in April, May, and June 2024.

Notes to editors

The report will be published online at 00:01 Brussels, 30th July 2024 here: https://ember-climate.org/insights/research/eu-wind-and-solar-overtake-fossil-fuels

Media enquiries

Ali Candlin

Communications Manager Europe

About Ember

Ember is an independent energy think tank that aims to accelerate the clean energy transition with data and policy. It creates targeted data insights to advance policies that urgently shift the world to a clean, electrified energy future.

https://ember-climate.org/

@EmberClimate