EU transition to renewables hastens

The European Union got more electricity from wind and solar power during the first half of 2024 than it did from fossil fuels, in a major step on the road to it reducing its carbon footprint and helping combat global warming.

It was the first time the bloc had generated more electricity from renewables than from fossil fuels during a half-year period.

The breakthrough was calculated by the United Kingdom-based independent energy think tank Ember, which said in a report released this week that electricity from wind and solar sources contributed 30 percent of the EU's electricity needs during the first six months of the year.

Fossil fuels contributed 27 percent of the EU's electricity, and 43 percent came from nuclear power and other sources.

Ember said 17 percent less electricity was generated from fossil fuels during the first six months of the year than was generated during the same period last year.

Ember analyst Chris Rosslowe said: "With wind and solar on the rise, the role of fossil fuels is narrowing. We are witnessing a historic shift in the power sector, and it is happening rapidly."

Ember said emissions from the EU's power sector were 31 percent less in the first half of 2024 than they were during the same period in 2022.

The increase in the amount of power generated from wind and solar sources corresponds with a sharp jump in the number of renewable projects across the EU, with many member nations now focusing on transitioning to renewables with renewed vigor, following price hikes in natural gas in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"If member states can keep up momentum on wind and solar deployment, then freedom from fossil power reliance will truly start to come into view," Rosslowe said.

Dave Jones, Ember's global insights program director, said solar power is now accelerating "faster than anyone thought possible".

However, Ember's report added that the EU will need to extend its electricity grid if it wants to continue to see sharp increases in the use of energy generated from renewables.

While most EU nations used significantly less pollution-generating fossil fuel to produce their electricity during the first half of the year, none made a bigger contribution than Germany, which used a quarter less coal during the period than in years gone by.

Ember said the shift away from fossil fuel electricity production was not all down to political will and investment in renewables; mild weather and good hydroelectric power generation conditions contributed to the shift.

A similar report from Ember released earlier this year said renewables were responsible for a record-breaking 30 percent of the world's electricity production during 2023.