Coal has fallen from being the 3rd largest EU power source in 2019 to 6th in 2024
Solar is growing in every EU country, while coal usage is declining
To sustain this growth, clean flexibility and smart electrification have to be accelerated
Energy think tank Ember recently released the European Electricity Review Report for 2024, which shows that solar power has surpassed coal for the first time in the European Union (EU). This is the 9th annual report on the European power sector by Ember, previously known as Sandbag.
According to the report, 2024 was a year of record-breaking progress in which solar generation increased by 54 TWh, up 22% from 2023. The report says that this achievement is part of the broader success story of the European Green Deal, which has driven renewable energy to account for 47% of the total electricity mix, up from 34% in 2019.
Through the same period, fossil fuels saw their share fall from 39% to a historic low of 29%, more than halving its emissions from their peak in 2007. While the EU has managed to reduce its reliance on imported gas during this time, about 12% of its gas power was still fueled by Russian gas imports in 2024 while the dependence on LNG has increased.
The EU added record solar generation capacity in 2024, seeing 66 GW of new additions, or about 450,000 panels added daily. This is an improvement from the 63 GW of new capacity additions in 2023. All EU countries contributed to this growth, says the report, collectively taking a step closer to their 2030 climate targets.
Looking ahead, the report says that the EU must accelerate its deployment of clean energy technologies to sustain this momentum. It continued that batteries and smart electrification solutions are vital to managing the flexibility of solar power while lowering electricity costs for consumers. These technologies are already mature and market-ready but require robust policy support to unlock their full potential.
Having achieved this historic milestone, solar power has solidified its position as the fastest-growing energy source in the EU region. Solar power generation accounts for more than 15% of the electricity mix in 5 EU countries and is able to meet 80% of demand at peak production times.
In parallel, wind is also seeing increased adoption with wind project approvals increasing notably in Germany. While saying that wind will play a key role in lowering electricity costs across the EU, Ember still expects it to fall short of the target.
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