EU Renewable Energy Surges in 2024, Becomes Leading Source of Electricity
EU Renewable Energy Surges in 2024, Becomes Leading Source of Electricity
Renewable energy continues to power the European Union's transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future. In 2024, preliminary data shows that the EU’s renewable energy supply rose by 3.4% compared to 2023, reaching 11.3 million terajoules (TJ). This upward trend reflects strong policy momentum and growing investment in wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.Coal and Fossil Fuel Use Continues to Decline
While renewables climbed, coal use continued its downward spiral. Brown coal (lignite) supply dropped by 10%, reaching just under 200 million tonnes, and hard coal supply plummeted 13.8% to its lowest level ever recorded in the EU, with 110.9 million tonnes.Meanwhile, natural gas — which saw a dramatic decline in 2023 — showed a modest 0.3% increase in 2024, totaling 12.8 million TJ. Oil and petroleum product supplies also dipped by 1.2%, totaling 454 million tonnes, further highlighting the EU’s gradual shift away from fossil fuels.
Renewables Dominate EU Electricity Generation
Perhaps the most striking figure of 2024: Renewables accounted for 47.3% of all electricity production in the EU. That’s 1.31 million gigawatt-hours (GWh) generated by green sources—up 7.7% from 2023.This solidifies renewable energy as the EU’s largest electricity source, overtaking both fossil fuels and nuclear. Electricity from fossil fuels dropped by 7.2%, supplying only 29.2% of the EU’s electricity (0.81 million GWh), while nuclear energy contributed 23.4% (0.65 million GWh), reflecting a 4.8% increase from the previous year.
