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Renewables remained the EU's largest electricity source, providing 47.2% of total generation in 2025, says Eurostat
Solar PV output surged 19.2%, helping offset lower electricity generation from hydro, wind, and biogas
Coal supply fell to record lows, while natural gas supply increased 2.3% for the second consecutive year
Renewable energy supply in the European Union (EU) increased by 1.4% year-on-year (YoY) in 2025, reaching 11.5 million terajoules (TJ), while renewables remained the bloc's largest source of electricity, according to preliminary data published by Eurostat.
Renewables accounted for 47.2% of the EU's electricity generation in 2025, producing around 1.33 million GWh. Although renewable electricity output slipped 0.5% from 2024 due to weaker hydropower generation, strong growth in solar PV output helped offset declines in hydro, wind, and biogas generation, according to the analysis.
Solar PV electricity generation rose by 58.5 TWh, or 19.2%, compared with the previous year. In contrast, hydropower generation fell by 47.4 TWh (-11.7%), while wind generation declined by 9.9 TWh (-2.0%).
Overall electricity supply in the EU increased by 0.9% in 2025. During the year, fossil fuel-based electricity generation rose 3.2% to 0.83 million GWh, accounting for 29.6% of total output. This was mainly driven by an 8.6% increase in electricity generated from natural gas.
Nuclear generation, on the other hand, edged up 0.2% to about 0.65 million GWh, representing 23.2% of total electricity production, according to the EU’s statistical office. Eurostat previously reported that solar energy surpassed nuclear energy to become the bloc’s main source of electricity generation in June 2025 (see Solar Beat Nuclear Energy As EU’s Top Power Source In June 2025).
On the energy supply side, natural gas increased for the second consecutive year, rising 2.3% to approximately 13.1 million TJ after a sharp decline in 2023. Around 88% of the gas supplied to the EU grid came from imports in 2025. Coal use continued its long-term decline, with brown coal supply falling 7.7% to 184.7 million tons and hard coal dropping 3.2% to 107.1 million tons. Both were the lowest levels recorded since comparable data began in 1990.
Petroleum product supply also declined by 2.8% YoY to 448.7 million tons.
According to Ember, wind and solar accounted for 30% of the EU’s electricity in 2025, exceeding fossil fuels' 29% share for the first time on record. In all, 71% of the bloc’s electricity was generated from low-carbon sources in 2025 (see Ember: Wind & Solar Generation Surpass Fossil Power In EU In 2025).
