Despite the recovery of demand, fossil electricity production in the European Union continues to decline. And for wind and photovoltaic, it's time for new production records. Together with hydropower generated half of the EU's electricity in the first half of 2024
The updated data from the Ember energy think tank
In the first six months of 2024, European electricity production has seen renewables advance and fossil fuels go backwards. To the point that today, in the bloc, wind and photovoltaics account for 30% of the electricity mix of the EU versus 27% of gas and coal. A first time to remember, which marked the whole first half of the year, despite the simultaneous growth of electricity demand in the region. The figures come from the energy think tank Ember which this morning published the report Wind and solar overtake EU fossil fuels in the first half of 2024. The title already says everything. For the first time, the two non-programable RES have, alone, had the best on fossil fuels, today at their historic low.
And although the result is regional, almost half of the Member States produced more renewable electricity than fossil fuels in the first six months of the year.
“The first half of 2024 shows the EU’s electric transition in full swing, as wind and solar have grown fast enough to overtake demand growth and push fossil fuels out of the mix,” analysts Euan Graham and Nicolas Fulgore write. “H, supporting the EU’s electricity transition at this pace will require dedicated political attention to reduce barriers to the integration of wind and photovoltaic energy. Adequate support for network connections and other enabling factors will be required.”
Data on electricity production in Europe 2024
The first figure that hits the eye is that linked to the decline in gas and coal (less than 17%) in thermoelectric production. Fossil generation, Ember explains, continued to fall to new minimum, despite the growth of consumption (+0.7%), providing in the first half “only” 343 TWh. Of course, the largest consumption was recorded by coal (-24%, 39 TWh less); for gas thermoelectric production the cut was more contained (-14%, 29 TWh less).
To cover the new demand for electricity we have thought of renewable sources. In particular, solar and wind power generation has grown to the point of overcoming the increase in consumption, thanks to new capacity additions and favourable weather conditions. The direct result? CO2 emissions in the first half of 2024 are now almost one-third (-31%) lower than in the second half of 2022. An unprecedented decline in such a short period, the organization stresses.
European electricity production is 50% renewable
Going into the details of the RES contribution it is revealed that, from January to June 2024, photovoltaic generation has increased by 20% (plus 23 TWh) compared to the first six months of 2023. That wind power of 9.5% (plus 21 TWh). Together, I make up 27% of European electricity production in 2024. But if in the calculation we also add the hydroelectric, in retreat on the numbers 2023 and 2022, the renewable share in the electric mix rises even to 50%. That is six percentage points more than the record of 2023.
“In addition to the growth of renewable energies, nuclear production has also increased by 3.1% (+9 TWh) across the EU, compared to the same period of 2023”, analysts explain. “This has masked two opposing trends: French nuclear production has returned online after maintenance operations and disruptions, jumping by 19 TWh. However, the closures of the last German nuclear fleet in the spring of 2023 have resulted in a decrease of 7 TWh that will not be reversed.”
Electricity production in Italy
The data concerning the Italy are already known, having recently provided Terna the monthly update. But it is still worth mentioning that in Italy, thermoelectric generation from sources lost 14 TWh (-21%) in the first half. In the same period of time, photovoltaic production increased by another 2.6 TWh (+17%) and hydroelectric production by 8.5 Twh (+56%).
Read also Electricity production from renewables at 52.9%, for 6 months above fossil fuels
