In Europe, wind and solar overtake fossil fuels
Recorded: Jan. 23, 2026, noon
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Last year, for the first time, wind and solar supplied more power than fossil fuels to the E.U., according to a new analysis.The shift is largely due to the rapid expansion of solar energy, which is growing faster than any other source of electricity. Together, wind and solar generated 30 percent of E.U. power last year, while fossil fuels provided 29 percent, according to the analysis from Ember, a think tank based in London. Including hydro, renewables provided nearly half of all E.U. power in 2025. E.U. power generation.
The analysis finds that solar is making gains in every E.U. country, while coal is broadly in retreat. Last year, solar alone supplied more than 20 percent of power in Hungary, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, and the Netherlands. Meanwhile, in 19 European countries, coal accounted for less than 5 percent of power. In 2025, both Ireland and Finland joined the ranks of European countries that have shuttered their last remaining coal plants.Warming, however, continues to challenge the shift to clean energy as drought saps hydropower. Last year, hydro output dropped slightly in the E.U., and natural gas power rose to compensate. “The next priority for the E.U. should be to put a serious dent in reliance on expensive, imported gas,” said Ember analyst Beatrice Petrovich. “Gas not only makes the E.U. more vulnerable to energy blackmail, it’s also driving up prices.”In parts of Europe, there are signs that increasingly cheap batteries are beginning to displace natural gas in the early evening, when power demand is high, but solar output is waning. Said Petrovich, “As this trend accelerates it could limit how much gas is needed in evening hours, therefore stabilizing prices.”ALSO ON YALE E360An E.U. Plan to Slash Micropollutants in Wastewater Is Under Attack Facebook
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In January 2026, a significant shift occurred within the European energy landscape, as evidenced by an analysis from Ember, a London-based think tank. For the first time, wind and solar power generation surpassed that of fossil fuels across the entire European Union. This transition represents a major milestone in the continent's pursuit of decarbonization, largely driven by the unprecedented expansion of solar energy production. The analysis revealed that wind and solar collectively accounted for 30 percent of the E.U.’s power generation in 2025, while fossil fuels contributed 29 percent. Notably, when considering all renewable sources, including hydropower, renewables supplied nearly half of the E.U.’s total electricity needs during the same period. The analysis highlighted a pronounced trend of solar energy gaining ground across nearly every European nation. Concurrently, coal-fired power plants are experiencing a broad and consistent decline. During 2025, solar energy supplied more than 20 percent of power generation in countries such as Hungary, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, and the Netherlands. Moreover, in nineteen European countries, the contribution of coal to overall power production fell below 5 percent. This trend culminated with Ireland and Finland becoming the latest nations to eliminate their remaining coal-fired power plants entirely, demonstrating the accelerating pace of the transition. However, the shift to clean energy is not without its challenges. The ongoing effects of climate change, specifically persistent drought conditions, are negatively impacting hydropower generation within the E.U. As a result, the output from hydroelectric sources declined marginally in 2025, necessitating an increase in natural gas power generation to maintain overall electricity supply. According to Beatrice Petrovich, an Ember analyst, this situation underscores a critical priority: “The next priority for the E.U. should be to put a serious dent in reliance on expensive, imported gas.” Petrovich further elaborated on the vulnerabilities introduced by this dependence, noting that reliance on imported gas makes the E.U. susceptible to “energy blackmail” and contributes to rising electricity prices. Adding to this complexity is the emerging influence of battery storage technology. In several regions of Europe, increasingly affordable batteries are beginning to displace natural gas during peak evening hours, when solar power output diminishes. Petrovich suggested that as this trend gains momentum, “it could limit how much gas is needed in evening hours, therefore stabilizing prices.” This dynamic represents a potentially transformative shift, suggesting that batteries could play a more substantial role in balancing the grid and further reducing the demand for fossil fuels. The overall situation indicates a rapidly evolving energy transition, one that requires ongoing adaptation and strategic planning to maximize the benefits of renewable sources while mitigating the disruptive effects of climate change and ensuring a stable and secure energy supply for Europe. |