In the first half of 2024, wind and solar energy accounted for 30% of the European Union's electricity generation, surpassing fossil fuels for the first time, according to an analysis by Ember. Fossil fuels supplied 27% of the EU's electricity during this period.
Wind and solar power overtook fossil fuel generation in 13 EU Member States, including Germany, Belgium, Hungary, and the Netherlands, which reached this milestone for the first time in the first half of 2024. These countries, combined with nine other Member States, now represent 70% of the EU's total electricity demand.
Just five years ago, only five of the 27 Member States—France, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania, and Luxembourg—were achieving this, accounting for only 25% of the EU's electricity demand.
In May, over 50% of Spain's electricity generation came from wind and solar, a record for the country. In the same month, Poland achieved one-third of its electricity generation from wind and solar for the first time. Hungary experienced strong solar growth, setting three consecutive all-time highs for solar output in April, May, and June 2024, surpassing the previous record set in July 2023.
Ember noted that recent years have fundamentally changed the EU's approach to the energy transition, especially following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which caused gas prices and electricity costs to surge. This situation led to a significant acceleration in the deployment of wind and solar energy across Member States.
New policies at both the EU and national levels have acknowledged and reinforced the role of clean power technologies to reduce reliance on expensive fossil fuel imports and minimize consumer exposure to price volatility. Falling solar panel costs have also supported continued deployment, even as energy prices begin to return to pre-crisis levels.
