Wind and Solar Surpass Fossil Fuels in EU Electricity Generation for First Time
A newly released report indicates that wind and solar energy have, for the first time, outpaced fossil fuels in electricity generation across the European Union.
The latest European Electricity Review from the global energy think tank Ember reveals that renewable sources contributed an impressive 30 per cent of the EU’s power, compared to 29 per cent from fossil fuels.
Dr. Beatrice Petrovich, a senior energy analyst at Ember and the report’s lead author, remarked, “This milestone moment highlights how swiftly the EU is transitioning towards a power system reliant on wind and solar. With fossil fuel dependencies causing global instability, the urgency to shift to clean energy has never been clearer.”
Insights from the European Electricity Review
This comprehensive review offers an in-depth look at the EU’s power landscape expected in 2025, providing detailed analysis of electricity generation and demand data for all 27 member states.
Ember attributes the achievement of wind and solar surpassing fossil fuels primarily to an extraordinary growth in solar power, which surged by 62 terawatt-hours (TWh) or 20.1 per cent relative to 2024.
In 2025, solar power within the EU generated a record 369 TWh, more than doubling the output seen in 2020, following a consistent trend of annual growth averaging 21 per cent over the last five years.
This notable expansion in solar energy was not confined to a select few leading nations; every EU country experienced an increase in solar production compared to the previous year.
However, several countries stand out, notably Hungary, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, and the Netherlands, where solar energy now accounts for over one-fifth of each nation’s electricity supply.
Wind and solar together surpassed fossil fuel generation in 14 out of the 27 EU nations in 2025.
Renewable Power Generation Trends
Collectively, renewable energy sources accounted for nearly half of the EU’s electricity (48 per cent), despite “unusual weather conditions” leading to a 12 per cent decline in hydro generation and a 2 per cent drop in wind energy production.
Still, wind power remained the second largest electricity source in the EU, contributing 17 per cent to the overall energy mix.
While this positive news for renewables is encouraging, the reduction in hydro generation has allowed gas generation to rise by 34 TWh, or 8 per cent, in 2025. Nonetheless, Ember’s analysis indicates that gas remains in a prolonged decline, currently sitting 18 per cent below its most recent peak in 2019.
This increase in gas consumption has led to a surge in the EU power sector’s gas import expenditure, which reached €32 billion in 2025, representing a 16 per cent rise from the previous year. It is no surprise that periods of peak gas usage have resulted in significant spikes in electricity prices across the EU, with average rates during those hours rising by 11 per cent compared to 2024.
Petrovich noted, “The next significant task will be to substantially reduce the EU’s dependence on costly imported gas. Gas not only exposes the EU to potential energy manipulation but also drives prices higher. In 2025, we observed early indications of increased utilisation of battery storage to manage local renewable energy production during gas-heavy periods. As this trend evolves, it could reduce the need for gas in the evening, thereby stabilising prices.”
“By investing throughout the power system to leverage the capabilities of batteries, grids, and electrified technologies, the EU can better use its indigenous renewable resources to keep prices stable and safeguard against energy manipulation.”
Furthermore, Ember’s analysis highlights a continuous decline in coal, which has now dropped to a historic low, contributing just 9.2 per cent of the EU’s power generation.
Coal’s decline is particularly evident in 19 EU member states where its use has diminished to zero or below 5 per cent. Even in the EU’s leading coal-producing nations, Germany and Poland, coal generation has plummeted to record lows.
