A record 47% of the European Union’s electricity now comes from solar and other renewable energy, a report Thursday said, amid a growing gap between the bloc’s push for clean energy and the new US administration’s pursuit of more fossil fuels. There is another hint.
Nearly three-quarters of the EU’s electricity does not emit planet-warming gases into the air – another 24% of electricity in the bloc comes from nuclear power, according to a report released by climate energy think tank Amber. This is far higher than in countries like the United States and China, where about two-thirds of their energy is still generated from carbon-polluting fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.
Experts say they are encouraged by Europe’s fossil fuel cuts, especially as the US looks set to increase its emissions as its new president promises cheaper gas prices, puts leases up for wind projects And has promised to rescind Biden-era incentives for electric vehicles.
“Fossil fuels are losing their grip on EU energy,” said Chris Roslowe, energy expert at Amber. In 2024, solar power will generate 11% of the EU’s electricity, overtaking coal which fell below 10% for the first time. Clean wind power generated more electricity than gas for the second year in a row.
Data for 2024 were not available for all countries. Data from Amber, the world’s largest electricity generator, for 2023 shows that Brazil will get the largest share of its electricity from renewable energy, about 89%, the majority of which comes from hydroelectric power. About 66.5% was in Canada, 30.6% in China, 26.5% in France, 22.7% in the US and 19.5% in India.
One reason the clean energy transition is moving at a fast pace in Europe is the European Green Deal, an ambitious policy passed in 2019 that paves the way to update climate laws. As a result of the agreement, the EU made its targets more ambitious, aiming to cut the region’s emissions by 55% by the end of the decade. The policy aims to make Europe climate neutral by 2050 – reducing the amount of excess emissions into the air to practically zero.
Hundreds of regulations and directives have been passed across Europe or are in the process of being ratified in European countries to encourage investment in clean energy and reduce carbon pollution.
“At the beginning of the deal, renewables were one-third and the share of fossil fuels in Europe’s electricity was 39%,” Roslowe said. “Fossils now generate only 29% and wind and solar power are driving the clean energy transition.” The amount of electricity generated from nuclear power has remained relatively constant across the block.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also spurred a move toward clean energy in Europe. Gas prices skyrocketed – making much of Europe’s gas coming from Russia unviable – forcing countries to seek cheaper, cleaner alternatives. Portugal, the Netherlands and Estonia saw the largest growth in clean energy over the past five years.
The transition to clean energy helped Europe avoid more than $61 billion worth of fossil fuel imports to generate electricity since 2019.
“This is sending a clear message that their energy needs will be met by clean energy, not gas imports,” said Peter de Paus, a Brussels-based energy analyst at European think tank E3G. De Puss said the EU originated as “a community of coal and steel because these industries were so important,” but it is now increasingly becoming “a community of solar and wind energy, batteries and smart technologies.” .
Meanwhile, nuclear development in the bloc has slowed. Across the EU, retirements of nuclear plants have outstripped new construction since the mid-2000s, according to Global Energy Monitor.
As President Trump pulls the United States out of the Paris Agreement aimed at curbing warming and pursues a “drill, baby, drill” energy policy, Rosslow said the EU’s leadership in clean energy will become even more important. It happens. “It’s about increasing European energy independence, and it’s about showing climate leadership,” he said.
On Tuesday, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said: “Europe will stay on this path, and continue to work with all countries that want to protect nature and stop global warming.”
