The European Union’s electricity generation has reached a new milestone in 2024, with three-quarters of the power coming from CO2 emissions-free sources, making it the greenest power mix to date, industry data shows.
During the first half of 2024, renewable sources like wind and solar accounted for 50% of the EU’s electricity generation, while nuclear power contributed another 24%. This means that a combined 74% of the bloc’s electricity was generated by emissions-free sources.
“The electricity generation of Europe has never had such a low-carbon profile before,” said Kristian Ruby, Secretary-General of the industry association Eurelectric.
The dramatic shift in the EU’s energy mix is primarily driven by the rapid expansion of renewable energy capacity. In 2023, the EU added a record 56 gigawatts of new solar power and 16 gigawatts of new wind power capacity.
However, the decrease in overall electricity demand has also played a role in making the power mix greener. EU power demand in the first half of 2024 was 5.8% lower than the same period in 2021, as industries and consumers reduced their energy consumption in response to the energy crisis triggered by Russia’s cuts in gas supplies to Europe in 2022.
The shift away from fossil fuels is a significant step towards the EU’s climate targets and reducing its reliance on imported energy. Coal’s share of the power mix has dropped to just 9%, while gas-fired generation accounts for 13% – both the lowest levels on record for the January-June period.
While the growing dominance of renewable energy is a positive development, it also poses challenges for the region’s aging power grids. Belgian grid operator Elia has warned that the recent surge in solar power capacity is leading to periods of surplus cheap energy, making it harder to balance the grid.
Kristian Ruby of Eurelectric stressed the urgent need for policymakers to invest in upgrading power grids, including by adding storage capacity to absorb excess renewable energy and prevent it from going to waste.
“We need a physical build-out of the grid with quite a bit of urgency,” he said.