Poland increased its solar panel output by 37% and Hungary by 49% in the first half of this year, with renewable energy surpassing fossil fuels in EU power stations for the first time, according to a report by think tank Ember.
Poland added 2.4 Terawatt hours (TWh) of solar renewable energy to its mix, while Hungary contributed 1.5 TWh during the same period. The highest growth in renewable power output was recorded in May, with over a third of Poland's energy coming from wind and solar power. In comparison, the full-year results for 2023 showed that 21% of the Polish electricity mix came from these renewable sources.
Hungary set three consecutive all-time highs for solar output in April, May, and June 2024, according to the report.
In Poland, 39% of new solar power capacity in 2023 was installed by private customers with rooftop panels connected to the grid, while the rest came from larger commercial investments.
Ember's report highlighted a significant milestone: during the first six months of 2024, wind and solar power outpaced fossil fuels across the EU for the first time, with renewables accounting for 30% of electricity generation, compared to 27% from fossil fuels.
“Wind and solar grew by 45 TWh, fast enough to meet and exceed new electricity demand, leading to a fall in fossil generation,” the report stated. Thirteen of the 27 EU member states used more of these renewable sources than coal, oil, and gas.
The report attributed the change to several factors, including higher average wind speeds at the beginning of the year, which were up by as much as 30% in some countries, such as the Netherlands.
However, the report also pointed out barriers to the expansion of renewable sources, such as bureaucratic challenges in connecting domestic solar panels to the grid and limitations on the grid's capacity to handle large amounts of renewable power generated during high winds or prolonged sunny spells.
