Despite lull: Solar and wind energy overtake fossil fuels within the EU
In more than half of the EU states, renewable energy sources now contribute more to the electricity mix than fossil fuels. Solar energy in particular is growing.
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In the European Union, more electricity was generated from wind and solar energy last year than from all fossil fuels combined for the first time. This was determined by the British think tank Ember, which has now presented the figures. According to the report, the “astonishing” growth in solar installations in particular ensured that the two renewable energy sources contributed 30 percent to the electricity generated in the EU. Fossil fuels accounted for 29 percent. Around 24 percent of the electricity generated came from nuclear energy, and the rest also came from renewable sources such as hydropower and biogas. Overall, renewables accounted for 47.9 percent of the electricity generated in the EU, but this was only 0.2 percentage points more than in the previous year.
According to the think tank's figures, renewable energies contributed more to electricity generation than fossil fuels in 14 out of 27 EU states in 2025. This was the case for the first time in Croatia and the Netherlands, while Austria (2023) and Germany (2024) had already reached this milestone. The two island states of Cyprus and Malta are still the furthest from this, with Poland and the Czech Republic following behind. Only in Slovakia is the share of renewables in the electricity mix not growing at all. Ember also writes that the share of coal in energy sources has decreased in every country, and gas has only replaced a part of it.
Solar power grows and grows
The transition to renewable energies is now primarily driven by solar installations. For the fourth time in a row, the amount of electricity generated by them in the EU has increased by a good 20 percent, to a recent 369 TWh. In contrast, the amount of electricity from wind power has even decreased by 2.5 percent to 473 TWh, which is likely due to unfavorable weather conditions at the beginning of last year, among other factors. In its graphic, the think tank has also compiled various national records, with Germany being referenced for solar energy overtaking gas as a source of electricity.
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Overall, the European Union has taken an “enormous” step towards a clean electricity mix in the past year, according to Ember. Coal has largely lost its central role, but there is still a significant dependence on natural gas. In order for renewable energy sources to cover more of the electricity demand, especially in the evenings, further expansion of battery capacity is also necessary. A significant acceleration has been seen here in the past year. This could, on the one hand, lead to price stabilization and, at the same time, make energy imports less of a point of leverage.
(mho)
