Europe: Solar Surpasses Coal With 11% Growth In 2024

Europe: Solar Surpasses Coal With 11% Growth In 2024

European Union (EU) in 2024 witnessed an 11% rise in solar-generated electricity overtaking coal which fell below 10%. European Electricity Review by Ember said. The latest review by think tank Ember, identified, a decline in gas generation in the EU for the fifth year in a row, and total fossil generation also fell to a historic low.

“Fossil fuels are losing their grip on EU energy,” said Chris Rosslowe, senior analyst and lead author of the report. “At the start of the European Green Deal in 2019, few thought the EU’s energy transition could be where it is today; wind and solar are pushing coal to the margins and forcing gas into structural decline.”

The European Electricity Review published by global energy think tank Ember provides a comprehensive overview of the EU power system in 2024. It analyses full-year electricity generation and demand data for 2024 in all EU-27 countries to understand the region’s progress in transitioning from fossil fuels to clean electricity.

Solar Overtakes Coal In Europe – Ember

Wind And Solar Continue To Rise In EU

The EU power sector is undergoing a deep transformation, spurred on by the European Green Deal. Solar generation (11%) overtook coal (10%) for the first time in 2024, as wind (17%) generated more electricity than gas (16%) for the second year in a row. Strong solar growth, combined with a recovery of hydropower, pushed the share of renewables to nearly half of EU power generation (47%). Fossil fuels generated 29% of the EU’s electricity in 2024. In 2019, before the Green Deal, fossil fuels provided 39% of EU electricity while renewables provided 34%.

These trends are widespread. Solar is growing in every EU country and more than half now have either no coal power or a share below 5% in their power mix. Coal has fallen from being the EU’s third-largest power source in 2019 to the sixth-largest in 2024, bringing the end into sight for the dirtiest fossil fuel. EU gas generation also declined for the fifth year in a row (-6%), despite a very small rebound in power demand (+1%). 

The EU Reaps Benefits Of Reduced Fossil Fuel Dependency

The surge in wind and solar generation has reduced the EU’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and its exposure to volatile prices since the energy crisis. Ember’s analysis found that without new wind and solar capacity added over the last five years, the EU would have imported an additional 92 billion cubic metres of fossil gas and 55 million tonnes of coal, costing €59 billion.   

Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe said: “This milestone is about more than just climate action; it is a cornerstone of European energy security and industrial competitiveness. Renewables are steadily pushing fossil fuels to the margins, with solar leading the way. We now need more flexibility to kick in, making sure the energy system is adapting to new realities: more storage and more smart electrification in heating, transport, and industries.”

Jacopo Tosoni, head of policy at EASE said: “The European Union’s competitiveness is intrinsically tied to the rapid deployment of clean energy and flexibility solutions, paving the way toward affordable and sustainable energy. It comes as no surprise that renewables and energy storage are becoming the cornerstone of the energy transition”