Jakarta, INTI - For the first time, electricity generated from wind and solar sources exceeded that from fossil fuels in the European Union in 2025, fueled by a sharp increase in solar production, according to data released on Thursday by energy think tank Ember.
Wind and solar accounted for a record 30% of total power generation across the 27-member bloc last year, surpassing fossil fuels, which supplied 29%. Solar energy alone contributed 13% of electricity output and grew by more than 20% for the fourth consecutive year, outpacing both coal and hydropower.
“As fossil fuel dependencies feed instability on the global stage, the stakes of transitioning to clean energy are clearer than ever,” Beatrice Petrovich, senior energy analyst at Ember and lead author of the report, said.
Renewables Hold Ground Despite Unusual Weather
Solar power generation increased across all EU member states alongside widespread solar panel deployment, supplying more than 20% of electricity in Hungary, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, and the Netherlands in 2025.
Renewable energy sources accounted for nearly half of the European Union’s electricity mix at 48%, despite atypical weather conditions that reduced hydropower output by 12% and wind generation by 2%. Even so, wind energy still delivered 17% of the EU’s electricity, exceeding gas-fired generation.
The first months of 2025 were unusually sunny, characterized by weak wind conditions and limited rainfall, but robust solar production helped maintain the overall share of renewables, Petrovich told Reuters.
In total, 14 EU countries generated more power from wind and solar than from all fossil fuel sources combined, underscoring a structural transformation of the region’s energy system, including the ongoing phase-out of coal.
“Coal power is in its terminal decline. We could say it’s becoming history for the EU,” Petrovich said in the interview. The fossil fuel’s share in the power mix was at a record low of 9.2%.
“The next priority for the EU should be to put a serious dent in reliance on expensive, imported gas,” she added.
Gas Use and Prices Rise at Battery Storage Expands
Gas-fired power generation in the European Union increased by 8% as reduced hydropower availability boosted reliance on gas, pushing gas import costs for the power sector up by 16% to €32 billion ($37 billion). This marked the first rise in gas import spending since the 2022 energy crisis.
Higher gas consumption also drove up average wholesale electricity prices, which were 11% higher during gas-dominated hours compared with 2024.
However, rapid expansion of battery storage capacity, particularly in Germany, Italy, and Poland, could enable solar and wind energy to be shifted to cover evening demand peaks and help stabilise electricity prices, Petrovich said.
($1 = €0.8601)
Conclusion
The European Union’s power sector is undergoing a structural shift as wind and solar energy increasingly displace fossil fuels. While weather variability and rising gas costs present short-term challenges, continued expansion of renewables and energy storage is strengthening the bloc’s transition toward a more resilient, low-carbon electricity system.
Read more: Renewable Energy Surpasses Fossil Fuels in the EU’s Power Generation