The December issue of the World of Petroleum and Bitumen
In the first half of 2024, the production of electricity using wind and solar power in Europe outpaced electricity generation from fossil fuels.
Wind and solar energy accounted for 30% of the EU's electricity mix from January to June, compared to 27% from fossil fuels.
According to a report by the think tank Ember, electricity demand in the EU increased by 0.7% in the first half of this year, recovering from two years of decline during the energy crisis. The think tank noted that the mild winter of 2023-2024 limited overall growth in electricity demand.
Wind and solar power together surpassed fossil fuel electricity production in 13 EU member states during the first half of 2024. In four countries—Germany, Belgium, Hungary, and the Netherlands—this milestone was reached for the first time in 2024.
Fossil fuel electricity production across the EU decreased by 17% in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2023. As a result, fossil fuels accounted for only 27% of the EU's electricity production during this period, down from 33% in the first half of 2023.
Ember reported that coal and natural gas electricity production fell by 24% and 14%, respectively. The increase in electricity production from wind and solar power eliminated one-fifth of the fossil fuel-generated electricity between 2019 and 2023.
Despite this encouraging milestone, the EU needs more policy support, including reducing restrictions and obstacles such as permitting and network access limitations, for the rapid deployment of wind and solar power.
Under current policy conditions and EU government plans, the bloc is on track to meet its target of achieving 750 gigawatts of installed solar capacity and 425 gigawatts of wind capacity by 2030.
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