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  5. EU Solar Power Surpasses Coal as Primary Energy Source

EU Solar Power Surpasses Coal as Primary Energy Source

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The European Union's energy landscape has undergone significant changes in 2024. According to available data, solar power has emerged as the EU's fastest-growing energy source, accounting for 11% of the bloc's electricity supply. Solar power has surpassed coal as the EU's primary source of electricity for the first time in 2024. Conversely, coal has declined to only 10% of the EU's power generation. Additionally, wind power remains the EU's second-largest power source. The growth of solar and wind has led to an increase in the share of renewables in the EU's energy mix, rising to 47% in 2024, up from 34% in 2019.

  1. GB
    Ember
    1. More storage and demand flexibility is needed to sustain growth and for consumers to reap the full benefits of abundant solar.
    2. A readily available solution is a battery co-located with a solar plant. This gives solar power producers more control over the prices they receive and helps them avoid selling for low prices in the middle of the day.
    3. Solar remained the EU's fastest-growing power source in 2024, rising above coal for the first time. Wind power remained the EU's second-largest power source, above gas and below nuclear.
    4. After a challenging few years for the wind power sector, additions are set to grow, but not by enough to hit EU targets. Closing this gap will require continued policy implementation and political support, such that the rate of additions between now and 2030 is more than double that of recent years.
    5. A surge in wind and solar generation is the main reason for declining fossil generation. Without wind and solar capacity added since 2019, the EU would have imported 92 billion cubic metres more of fossil gas and 55 million tonnes more of hard coal, costing €59 billion.
    6. The European Green Deal has delivered a deep and rapid transformation of the EU power sector.
  2. BE
    Pieter De Pous
    E3G
    1. This is sending a clear message that their energy needs are going to be met through clean power, not gas imports.
  3. GB
    Chris Rosslowe
    Ember
    1. At the start of the European Green Deal in 2019, few thought the EU's energy transition would be where it is today: wind and solar are relegating coal to the margins and pushing gas into decline.
    2. It's about increasing European energy independence, and it's about showing this climate leadership.
    3. Fossil fuels are losing their grip on EU energy.
    4. We need to accelerate our efforts, particularly in the wind power sector.

European Energy Politics

  1. Germany to shut down its last three running nuclear power plants

sources

  1. 1.The Times of India
  2. 2.France 24
  3. 3.DW News
  4. 4.Agence France-Presse

perspectives

  1. 1.Russian Foreign Policy
  2. 2.Chinese Foreign Policy
  3. 3.Climate Change
  4. 4.European Energy Market
  5. 5.Scholz Coalition in Germany
  6. 6.Nuclear Power
  7. 7.Renewable energy

countries

  1. 1.GermanyDE
  2. 2.ItalyIT
  3. 3.Russian FederationRU
  4. 4.UkraineUA
  5. 5.United StatesUS

organizations

  1. 1.EmberGB
  2. 2.European Union
  3. 3.E3G

persons

  1. 1.Chris RossloweGB
  2. 2.Donald TrumpUS
  3. 3.Pieter De PousBE
  4. 4.Ursula Von Der LeyenDE

technicals

  1. 1.European Green Deal
  2. 2.Paris Climate Agreement
  3. 3.European Electricity Review 2025