Solar and Wind Generate More Electricity than Fossil Fuels in EU

Highlights:

  • Solar and Wind generation overtook fossil fuel power in the EU last month
  • For the first time, the share of solar in the power mix was higher than that of coal in the region.

Wind and Solar combined produced more energy than fossil fuels this May in European Union. A new report by think-tank Ember reveals that this milestone has been achieved for the first time in the EU’s history.

The two clean energy resources produced 59TWh of energy last month, meeting almost a third (31%) of the region’s electricity demand.

Solar and Wind generation overtake fossil fuels in EU

Moreover, solar power production, which stood at 27 TWh in May, accounted for 14% of the EU’s electricity. It was also the first time that the share of solar energy in the power mix was higher than that of coal (10%).

“The record-low coal generation in May was just below the previous record set during the pandemic lockdowns, when coal power generated slightly above 10% of EU electricity in April 2020” the report states.

Moreover, in the January to May period, coal and gas generation have fallen by 20% and 15% compared to last year. In contrast, solar increased by 10% and wind by 5%.

All European countries witnessed a trend of rising solar and wind generation and declining fossil fuel-based electricity this year.

“The EU is on track for a huge collapse in fossil power this year, as wind and solar emerge as the backbone of the future electricity system,” said Sarah Brown, Ember’s Europe lead.

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Resource: Ember

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