EU Solar Energy Surpasses Coal in 2024, First Time Ever

A recent report reveals that the European Union (EU) has achieved a significant milestone in its decarbonisation efforts. For the first time in 2024, solar energy surpassed coal as a primary source of electricity in the EU’s energy mix.

Solar power also emerged as the fastest-growing energy source in the region. This development highlights Europe’s progress in phasing out fossil fuels and reducing its dependence on Russian energy imports.

The findings in Ember’s annual European Electricity Review indicate that renewable energy sources collectively accounted for 47% of the EU’s energy generation last year—an impressive 10% increase compared to the previous year. In contrast, coal, the most polluting fossil fuel, dropped to a mere 10% of the energy mix.

“Fossil fuels are losing their grip on EU energy,” said Chris Rosslowe, senior analyst and lead author of the Ember report. “At the start of the European Green Deal in 2019, few thought the EU’s energy transition could be where it is today; wind and solar are pushing coal to the margins and forcing gas into structural decline,” he said.

The surge in solar power has been partly fuelled by the instability in Russian energy markets. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, gas prices spiked globally, hitting Europe particularly hard due to its reliance on Russian imports.

In response, Western governments have made concerted efforts to reduce their dependency on Russian energy, implementing economic sanctions and seeking more affordable alternatives. This shift has driven millions of Europeans to renewable energy solutions, alleviating energy poverty in the process.

According to the Ember report, increased wind and solar energy capacity has helped the EU avoid approximately $61 billion (€58.6 billion) in fossil fuel imports since 2019. Pieter de Pous, an analyst at the European think tank E3G, remarked, “This sends a clear signal that Europe’s energy needs will be met with clean power, not fossil fuel imports.”

However, the rapid expansion of solar energy may face a global slowdown in 2025. Energy data and analytics firm Wood Mackenzie predicts that while 495 GW of solar capacity was added globally in 2024, the figure is expected to decline slightly to 493 GW in 2025. This forecast reflects changing policies, economic shifts, and rising solar module costs.

“Post-election uncertainty, waning incentives, power sector reforms and a shift towards less ambitious climate agendas will drive solar installations to stagnate at 493 GWdc after years of exponential growth,” Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Wood Mackenzie’s principal analyst for utility-scale solar in North America, was recently quoted by PV Magazine. 

China remains a driving force behind solar energy expansion, benefiting from favourable policies and its extensive manufacturing capabilities. The country is currently undertaking a massive $48 billion solar project, nicknamed the ‘Great Wall of Solar,’ which will span 400 kilometres in the Kubuqi Desert and create 50,000 jobs.

In Europe, eliminating coal’s remaining 10% share in the energy mix may prove challenging. Germany, the EU’s largest coal-based energy producer, is likely to extend the use of coal plants longer than originally planned due to delays and cost overruns in gas plant projects. If current trends persist, coal plants may continue to serve as a backup for energy security well into the next decade.