EU reaches record share of low-carbon electricity: 74% in the first half of the year

The energy mix across the European Union is going green. At least, that is what the statistical data for the first half of 2024 published by the Eurelectric association show. According to the data, almost three-quarters (74 %) of all electricity was generated from low-emission sources, a result the EU has probably never seen before.

The data confirm, first, the accelerating pace of decarbonisation: a closer look shows that approximately fifty percent of electricity came from renewable sources. Second, the figures indicate that Europe’s nuclear fleet is stabilising, with nuclear power accounting for the remaining twenty-four percent. Third, they point to coal’s declining role, with around nine percent of electricity generated from coal. The remaining share came from natural gas.

Year on year, the share of renewables in Europe’s electricity mix increased by approximately six percent.

“The pace of change is impressive. These figures show that power companies’ efforts to decarbonise are years ahead of any other sector,” said Eurelectric Secretary General Kristian Ruby.

On the other hand, Eurelectric’s data show that electricity demand is falling. “Years of stagnant electricity demand have now turned into a regular decline. Policymakers must urgently support electricity demand to provide the necessary investment signals for clean generation,” Kristian Ruby added.

Europe is making major strides

The independent energy think tank Ember highlighted four key developments behind Europe’s major strides, some of which have already been outlined above. Broadly speaking, these include an unprecedented collapse in coal-fired generation. One-fifth of Europe’s existing coal fleet is due to close this year and next. At the same time, coal’s decline is not leading to increased electricity generation from gas; if anything, gas generation has fallen for four consecutive years.

The second development is a record drop in emissions from the EU energy sector. In 2023, they fell by a record nineteen percent, surpassing the previous record set during the pandemic in 2020. Compared with 2007, emissions from the energy sector have fallen by 46 percent.

Wind power is making a substantial contribution to the transformation of Europe’s energy sector. In 2023, wind power generation surpassed gas-fired electricity generation for the first time, rising by a record thirteen percent, or 55 TWh. A total of 17 GW was installed in 2023, but for the EU to meet its targets, the annual rate of deployment must nearly double to more than 30 GW by 2030.

The fourth and final development cited is the renewables boom mentioned above. Combined wind and solar generation rose by a record 90 TWh, while installed capacity increased by 73 GW. This brought renewable electricity to a record 44 percent share of the energy mix.