The EU achieved its cleanest electricity mix ever in 2023, fueled by a record fall in coal, gas, and CO2 emissions, which paved the way for a renewables surge, according to a report by London-based energy think tank Ember on Wednesday.
Ember’s European Electricity Review 2024 revealed that coal generation plummeted by 26% to its lowest level ever of 333 terawatt-hours (TWh), comprising just 12% of the EU’s electricity mix in 2023.
During the same period, gas generation fell by 15%, or by 82 TWh, to 452 TWh, marking the largest annual decline since at least 1990 and the fourth consecutive year of falls, according to the report. Gas accounted for 16.8% of total EU generation in 2023.
The report also noted that fossil generation suffered a record 19% plunge of 209 TWh last year, dropping below a third of the EU’s electricity mix for the first time.
- Wind surpasses gas for the first time
Wind power soared to record heights in 2023, generating 55 TWh and surpassing gas for the first time.
“Electricity produced from wind was 475 TWh, equivalent to France’s total electricity demand, compared to 452 TWh from gas. This was the only year that wind generation exceeded that of coal (333 TWh) aside from 2020 amid COVID-19 impacts,” the report said.
Wind and solar power generated 26.7% of the EU's electricity in 2023, exceeding a quarter for the first time.
While hydro generation recovered from its low levels in 2022 to provide 11.8% of EU electricity last year, nuclear power accounted for 23% of total electricity.
Thus, the total share of renewable energy sources in the EU's electricity generation broke a record at over 40% for the first time.
According to Ember, Europe’s power sector transition made crucial progress in 2023; however, member states are not yet aiming high enough for common EU goals, and delivery remains too slow.
The EU’s REPowerEU plan projects that 72% of power generation will come from renewables by 2030, up from 44% in 2023. Ember predicts that wind and solar will drive this increase, which will double from 27% in 2023 to 55% in 2030.
Ember’s Europe lead, Sarah Brown, said the EU’s power sector is in the middle of a monumental shift, with fossil fuels playing a smaller role than ever as a system with wind and solar as its backbone.
“The energy crisis and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine did not lead to a coal and gas resurgence—far from it,” Brown added.
“Coal is nearing phase-out, and as wind and solar grow, gas will be next to enter terminal decline. However, it is not time to get complacent. The EU needs a laser focus on rapidly deploying wind, solar, and flexibility to create a system free of fossil fuels.”
Reporting by Nuran Erkul Kaya in London
Writing by Handan Kazanci
Anadolu Agency
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