🌞 Solar and wind surpass fossil fuels in EU electricity production

🌞 Solar and wind surpass fossil fuels in EU electricity production

Wind and solar power generated 30% of EU's electricity during the first half of 2024. For the first time, 13 EU countries produced more electricity from wind and solar than from fossil fuels.

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  • Wind and solar power generated 30 percent of EU's electricity during the first half of 2024.
  • For the first time, 13 EU countries produced more electricity from wind and solar than from fossil fuels.
  • Electricity production from fossil fuels decreased by 17 percent compared to the same period the previous year.

Solar and wind take the lead in EU's energy mix

For the first time in history, wind and solar power have surpassed fossil fuels as the largest source of electricity production in the European Union. According to a new report from the climate think tank Ember, renewable energy sources accounted for 30 percent of EU's electricity production during the first half of 2024.

Andrea Hahmann, a researcher at the Technical University of Denmark, points out that strong winds were common during the first six months of 2024 in northern Europe, where most of the wind energy is generated. This contributed to the positive development of renewable energy.

As renewable energy grows, the use of fossil fuels is decreasing significantly. The report shows that electricity production from coal, oil, and gas fell by 17 percent during the first half of 2024 compared to the same period the previous year. EU power plants used 24 percent less coal and 14 percent less gas.

More countries reach milestone

A growing number of EU countries now see wind and solar as their primary energy sources. During the first half of 2024, 13 member countries generated more electricity from wind and solar than from fossil fuels. Germany, Belgium, Hungary, and the Netherlands reached this milestone for the first time.

The continued transition away from polluting fuels has led to a significant reduction in emissions within the energy sector. Compared to the first half of 2022, the sector's emissions have decreased by one-third.

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