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Historic drop in fossil fuels in the EU favored by renewable energies

For the first time in April, fossil fuels generated less than a quarter of the EU's electricity, thanks to strong growth in renewable energies.

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According to energy think tank Ember, the share of electricity generated by fossil fuels in the European Union reached a record low of 23% in April. This is 22% less than in April 2023. Moreover, this reduction comes despite a rise in electricity demand, exceeding the previous record of 27% set in May 2023.

Contribution from renewables

Sustained growth in wind and solar power, and a recovery in hydroelectricity, were the main drivers behind the reduction in fossil fuel production. Together, wind and solar generated more than a third of the EU’s electricity in April. On the other hand, the shares of gas and coal have fallen, with coal contributing just 8.6% to the energy mix, compared with 30% in 2023. And then there are the green hydrogen projects.

Impact in Germany and other EU countries

Germany has recorded the biggest drop in fossil fuel generation, with the closure of seven coal-fired power plants at the end of March 2024. This represents 32% of the total EU reduction. Italy and Spain also saw significant reductions. These accounted for 15% and smaller shares respectively of the total decline.

Resilience of renewables despite growing demand

Electricity demand rose slightly by 0.4% in the first four months of the year compared with 2023. Despite this, fossil-fired power generation continued to decline. Renewable energies are playing an increasingly important role in the energy mix. Ember’s Sarah Brown highlights the structural replacement of coal by wind and solar power. A sign of a well-established energy transition.
The EU’s energy transition continues to gather pace, with a significant drop in emissions and an increase in the share of renewables in the energy mix. These trends demonstrate the ability of renewable energies to meet growing demand while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

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