Solar power has overtaken coal in electricity production in the European Union in 2024 for the first time in history, according to a report by energy think tank Ember released on Thursday (23).
The mapping shows that photovoltaic systems produced about 11% of the bloc's electricity last year, while coal-fired power plants generated 10%. Fossil gas, in turn, fell for the fifth consecutive year, accounting for 16% of the electricity mix. "This is a milestone," said Beatrice. Petrovich, co-author of the report, to The Guardian.
According to her, the use of coal in the European Union's energy sector has fallen by 68% since 2003. “Coal is the oldest form of producing electricity, but also the most polluting. Solar energy is the rising star,” she added.
The report also points out that several countries that make up the economic bloc reduced their use of coal in the last year, with emphasis on Germany and Poland – two large coal consumers that have advanced in the use of renewable sources. The share of coal in the German power grid fell by 17%, while in Poland the reduction was 8%.
According to the report, the European Union accumulated 338 GW of installed solar power capacity in 2024, remaining on track to reach its target of 400 GW by 2025, with the potential to reach 750 GW by 2030 if it maintains the current pace of expansion.
“Europe is making the most of the cost, safety and air quality benefits of renewables,” said Gregory Nemet, an energy researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and co-author of an IPCC report, according to The Guardian.
To sustain growth in clean energy sources in the European Union, the study recommends that more investment be made in storage technologies, smart meters and other forms of energy flexibility that align the variable supply of renewable sources with daily demand.
The full Ember study is available for download at this link.
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