Clean energy sources accounted for a remarkable 47 percent of European electricity last year, surpassing fossil fuels.
A recent report from Ember, a London-based think tank, revealed that solar power saw significant growth, contributing 11 percent of Europe’s electricity and overtaking coal for the first time.
The combined power of solar and wind exceeded gas, which has been on a declining trend for the past five years.
These achievements mark significant milestones in reaching a European target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent compared to 1990 levels by 2030.
The power sector emissions in Europe have now dropped to less than half of their levels in 2007, as stated by Ember.
This progress has been made possible due to the support of politicians from various backgrounds towards renewables.
“Many national and European elections raised concerns about the decline in support for the transition to clean energy. However, progress continued to move forward,” the report mentioned.
Some of the driving force behind this political consensus is economic.
Since 2019, solar and wind power have saved Europeans approximately 59 billion euros ($61bn) in fossil fuel imports, primarily gas.
During the same period, the share of fossil fuels in the power sector decreased to 29 percent, while renewables saw an increase.
‘US risks being left behind in the clean industrial revolution’
Europe heavily relies on oil and gas imports, spending around half a trillion dollars annually. The continent’s main focus for energy autonomy lies in advancing renewables.
In contrast, the United States leads as the largest oil producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas (LPG), with President Donald Trump aiming to further boost LPG production.
On his first day in office, Trump declared a national energy emergency to streamline drilling and pipeline construction permits. He also temporarily halted all onshore and offshore wind farm projects through an executive order.
These policies reflect the disparities between the US and Europe in terms of energy strategies.
“The US is diverging from worldwide trends in wind power,” noted Dave Jones, insights director at Ember. “Major economies are embracing wind as a cost-effective, clean energy source.
“The US faces the risk of lagging behind in the clean industrial revolution.”
Ember’s findings showed that the US generated only 10 percent of its electricity from wind energy last year, compared to Europe’s 17 percent and the UK’s 29 percent.
On January 7, Trump criticized offshore wind farms, claiming they devalue ocean areas by obstructing oil and gas exploration.
Hours before signing the executive orders, during his inauguration, Trump emphasized restoring America as a manufacturing powerhouse with its abundant oil and gas resources.
Kostis Stambolis, the head of the Institute of Energy for Southeast Europe (IENE), expressed, “The US currently stands as self-sufficient in oil and gas production, generating 20 million barrels of oil-equivalent daily.
“Trump’s goal is to boost its status as an oil and gas export giant.”
While the US aims for energy independence, several other countries like Australia, Qatar, and Mauritania have announced plans to expand gas liquefaction facilities, increasing supply and lowering prices.
Stambolis predicted a global oversupply of LNG from 2026 to 2030, paving the way for intense competition and price drops, potentially impacting the development of renewables.
Ember remains optimistic about Europe’s continued investment in energy self-sufficiency.
“The EU is making strides towards a clean energy future driven by domestically sourced wind and solar power,” noted Beatrice Petrovich, co-author of the report. “This new energy model will reduce the bloc’s susceptibility to fossil fuel price fluctuations, address climate change challenges, and provide affordable energy.”
‘Replacing fossil fuels in transport is harder’
Not all energy analysts are certain of Europe’s success in this transition.
“Shifting to renewables in the electricity sector is the ‘easy’ part of the transition, especially with high fossil fuel prices. However, replacing fossil fuels in transport and heating sectors poses greater challenges,” highlighted Professor Jonathan Stern from the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies.
Europe’s aspirations to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and two key events have accelerated its transformation.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the establishment of a fund aimed at steering Europe out of economic downturns. The Recovery and Resilience Fund allocated 1.8 trillion euros ($1.87 trillion) in investments, with one-third dedicated to green energy initiatives.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine hastened Europe’s shift away from fossil fuels as Russia curtailed gas flows to the continent, pushing Europe towards alternative energy sources and buying LNG from other producers.
Past reports from Ember indicated record growth rates in Europe’s solar and wind energy sectors in recent years, further solidifying the switch to renewables.
Although Russia has invested in LNG facilities, diverting its gas into disguised LNG carriers, Stern cautioned that these changes in the gas market might provide renewables with a temporary boost.
“The spike in gas prices in 2024 due to the shift from Russian gas to LNG in a tight global market greatly benefited renewables,” he remarked.
