The first quarter of 2024 witnessed a record-breaking surge in renewable energy generation across the European Union, according to data analyst Montel EnAppSys.
Despite a 5.2% decrease in overall electricity demand compared to the same period in 2022 and a 6.3% decrease compared to Q1 2021, renewables generation soared to a record high of 375.9 terawatt-hours (TWh). This figure surpassed the previous record of 358.4 TWh set in the previous quarter, driven mainly by an increase in hydro generation from 126.4 TWh in Q4 2023 to 136.6 TWh in Q1 2024.
Notably, France and Norway saw the largest increases in hydro generation, with France increasing by 3.5 TWh and Norway by 2.1 TWh.
Renewables, including biomass, hydro, wind, solar, and waste, accounted for 50.1% of overall European power generation in the first quarter of 2024.
The trend of decreasing electricity demand, which began during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and continued amid the global energy crisis, was accentuated by the reduction in overall demand for electricity.
Wind output in Europe reached 175.6 TWh in the first three months of 2024, slightly below the previous quarter's figure of 177.4 TWh but still the second-highest on record.
The high renewables output coupled with low demand led to a decline in fossil fuel generation, with coal/lignite falling to 84.8 TWh from 94.1 TWh in the previous quarter.
Jean-Paul Harreman, director of Montel EnAppSys, commented on the findings, saying, “Despite electricity and gas prices falling from the peaks of Q3 2022, demand remains down compared to the pre-COVID and pre-energy crisis periods. With the weather especially warm by historical standards in some parts of Europe, reduced heating load and low industrial demand have contributed to the continuation of this trend.”
Harreman also noted the significant increase in renewables generation in Q1, primarily driven by an increase in hydro generation. He added, “The surge in renewables generation in Q1 was primarily due to an increase in hydro generation. Given the time of year, solar output made up a relatively small part of the renewables total (36.5 TWh). However, although this figure was low compared to hydro and wind, it was still the highest solar output on record for any Q1 period, suggesting that records for solar generation are likely to be broken in Q2 and Q3 when the weather is more favorable.”
