Wind and solar power generated more electricity than fossil fuels in the European Union for the first time in 2025, underscoring the bloc’s gradual shift towards low-carbon energy, data published on Thursday showed.
According to energy think-tank Ember, wind and solar accounted for 30% of EU electricity output last year, edging past the 29% produced by coal, gas and oil-fired power plants.
The milestone was driven by a 19% surge in solar capacity, which offset weaker hydropower generation caused by drought, while gas-fired electricity output rose 8% to cover supply gaps.
Solar power now delivers more than a fifth of electricity in countries such as Hungary, Spain and the Netherlands, highlighting uneven but accelerating adoption across the bloc.
Overall, renewables and nuclear energy supplied 71% of EU electricity in 2025, cementing Europe’s power mix as predominantly low-carbon, Ember’s data showed.
The shift is central to EU efforts to meet climate targets and reduce dependence on imported fuels, including supplies from Russia, even as sectors like transport remain fossil fuel-heavy.
However, the transition has faced political resistance, with pressure from governments including Germany and the Czech Republic leading Brussels to dilute key carbon-cutting measures last year.
A deal to sharply increase U.S. energy imports under President Donald Trump has also raised questions about Europe’s long-term plans to reduce oil and gas use.
Coal’s share of EU power generation fell to a record low 9.2%, with Germany and Poland, its biggest users, both posting historic declines.
Despite rapid growth in clean power, Ember warned that underinvestment in grids and storage has kept energy costs high, urging greater spending to prevent price spikes linked to gas use.