The European Union’s use of fossil fuels for electricity generation has fallen to its lowest level since records began, according to a new report from energy analysts Ember. In the first six months of 2023, electricity generated from coal collapsed by 23% and gas fell by 13%, compared with the same period a year earlier. At the same time, solar generation increased by 13% and wind power output by 5%. This allowed 17 EU countries to generate record shares of power from renewables. Greece and Romania both passed 50% renewables for the first time, while Denmark and Portugal both surpassed 75% renewables.
The fall in the reliance on fossil fuels was driven mainly by a “significant” drop in electricity demand amid high gas and power prices, according to Ember. It adds that the EU will need to accelerate the deployment of low-carbon power to accommodate for demand recovering while keeping on track for climate goals.
The report shows that over the first six months of 2023:
- The structural decline of coal has continued, despite the volatility in the power market in the EU.
- Solar generation increased 13% in comparison to the same period the previous year.
- Wind capacity expansion has been hit by policy challenges and increased prices.
- Nuclear generation fell by 3.6%, but French nuclear output has increased since April and is expected to continue to rebound throughout the year.
- Electricity demand fell by 5% to a record low of 1,261TWh, largely due to high power prices.
Across Europe, fossil-fuel generation fell over the first six months of 2023. Generation from coal and gas decreased by 86 terawatt hours (TWh, 17%), with fossil fuels generating 410TWh (33%) of demand, according to Ember. There were 11 countries that saw a fall of at least 20% and five – Portugal, Australia, Bulgaria, Estonia and Finland – where fossil fuel generation fell by more than 30% during the first half of 2023. Records were set for the lowest total fossil-fuel generation for the period in 14 countries, with Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Poland and Slovenia at the lowest fossil output since at least 2000.
This exciting development shows that the EU is making significant progress towards reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and transitioning towards renewable energy sources. As demand recovers and climate goals become more pressing, it will be important for the EU to continue accelerating its deployment of low-carbon power.
Source: Ember