Solar power overtook coal in EU's electricity mix in 2024, Ember says
Solar power overtook coal in the European Union’s electricity mix for the first time last year, while wind power’s share plateaued, data from energy think tank Ember showed on Thursday.
The EU is seeking to increase its renewable power generation as part of efforts to cut emissions and reach its climate targets as well as cutting its reliance on fossil fuel imports to help boost energy security.
Solar generation provided 11% of the EU’s electricity mix in 2024, up from 9.3% in 2023 and overtaking coal which fell to less than 10% for the first time since Ember began collating the figures in 2011, the data showed.
“For the past two years we have seen sharp declines in both coal and gas in the EU power system and fossil fuels are now at an historic low,” Chris Rosslowe, senior analyst and lead author of the report said in an interview.
Gas-fired power production fell to a 15.7% share from 16.9% in 2023 while wind power was almost flat at 17.4%.
Although some 13 gigawatts (GW) of new wind capacity was added in 2024, wind conditions were less favourable than in 2023, leading to lower than expected generation.
"The new capacity added this year was slightly offset by the worse wind conditions," Rosslowe said.
The EU wants wind power to make up around 34% of its electricity mix by 2030 and more action is needed, particularly around making permitting for new projects easier, to meet the goal, Rosslowe said.
Nuclear remained the dominant electricity provider in the EU, rising to 23.7% from 23% in 2023.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Showroom
Established on 1 March, 2000, by Barries Barnard, Advanced Fire Suppression Technologies (AFST) and the Advanced Group stands as Sub-Saharan...
VISIT SHOWROOM
We supply customers with practical affordable solutions for their testing needs. Our products include benchtop, portable, in-line process control...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
