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Ember’s European Electricity Review 2025: Solar Power Surpasses Coal, Gas Declines, and Wind & Solar Save Rs5,14,800 crore.

Ember's latest European Electricity Review 2025 highlights significant progress in Europe’s transition to cleaner energy. The report reveals how solar and wind power are leading the charge, surpassing fossil fuels and significantly reducing the EU's reliance on coal and gas.

In a landmark achievement, solar power has overtaken coal power in the EU for the first time in history. Solar generation surged by 22% in 2024, reaching 304 TWh, while coal generation dropped to 269 TWh. This shift marks a dramatic fall for coal, which went from being the third largest source of power in the EU in 2019 to the sixth largest in 2024. Notably, over half of EU countries either have no coal power or a share below 5% in their energy mix. This is a key milestone in Europe’s shift towards cleaner, renewable energy sources.

Gas power generation has continued its downward trend for the fifth consecutive year, despite a minor rebound in electricity demand. This decline, alongside a reduction in coal power, has contributed to a sharp drop in total EU power sector emissions—now at less than half of their 2007 peak. The steady fall in gas consumption has also contributed to a 20?crease in total EU gas consumption over the past five years, with one-third of this reduction occurring in the power sector alone.

Since the start of the Green Deal, the growing wind and solar capacity has helped the EU avoid Rs5,14,800 crore in fossil fuel imports. Without the additional wind and solar power added since 2019, the EU would have had to import an extra Rs9,200 crore cubic meters of fossil gas and 55 million tonnes of hard coal—substantially increasing costs. This highlights the critical role that renewables have played in boosting energy security while reducing dependence on expensive fossil fuels.

Key Takeaways:

• Solar power now surpasses coal in generation, with 11% of EU power from solar in 2024.
• The decline in coal and gas generation has significantly cut emissions in the EU, making a substantial contribution to meeting climate goals.
• Wind and solar power have saved the EU Rs5,14,800 crore by avoiding the need for fossil fuel imports.

These findings underscore the EU’s rapid progress in transitioning to a cleaner energy mix, with solar and wind power leading the charge. As the energy landscape evolves, the EU’s clean energy transition continues to demonstrate the importance of investing in renewable sources to enhance energy security and meet climate targets.