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Renewables overtook fossil fuels as EU’s main power source in 2020

(EurActiv, 25 Jan 2021) Renewables generated 38% of the EU’s electricity in 2020, overtaking coal and gas to become the main source of electricity for the first time ever in Europe, according to fresh data released on Monday (25 January).

The share of fossil fuels in the electricity mix fell to 37% while the remaining 25% was made up by nuclear power, according to the study published today by think tanks Ember and Agora Energiewende.

Both wind and solar generation increased capacity in 2020, producing 14% and 5% of the EU’s electricity respectively. Together, they generated a fifth of the EU’s electricity.

The remaining share of renewables (19%) was supplied mainly by hydropower and bioenergy. However, these have remained stable over the years and have mostly stopped growing.

“At the start of a decade of global climate action, it is satisfying that Europe has already reached this green power tipping point. Rapid growth in wind and solar has forced coal into decline but this is just the beginning,” said Dave Jones, senior electricity analyst at Ember Climate.

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EurActiv, 25 Jan 2021: Renewables overtook fossil fuels as EU’s main power source in 2020

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