The share of fossil fuels in the EU's electricity generation in May was 27 percent (53 terawatt-hours), according to the analysis of the London-based think tank Ember. Solar energy stood out with a 14 per cent share in the EU's electricity production. The share of electricity generated from solar energy reached an all-time high in May. The 27 terawatt hours of electricity generated from the sun last month exceeded the record production reached in July 2022 of the year.
For the first time, solar generated more electricity than coal in the EU
The share of wind in electricity generation continued to increase y-o-y at 17 per cent, but this was still below the record level of 23 per cent reached in January. Solar generated more electricity than coal for the first time in the EU. Coal's share in EU electricity generation stood at 10 per cent in May.
Coal's share of generation decreased to an all-time low on a monthly basis last month due to the increase in electricity generation from wind and solar power. In the January-May period this year, electricity generation from coal and gas decreased by 20 and 15 per cent respectively compared to the same period last year, while generation from solar and wind grew by 10 and 5 per cent respectively.
Share of clean energy generation reaches record high
Evaluating the developments in Europe's electricity transition, Ember Europe Leader Sarah Brown emphasised that clean energy generation has reached record levels and said: "Solar and wind are not only helping to reduce fossil fuel use. It's not just coal power generation that is bottoming out, gas is also on shaky ground. While the EU is preparing to realise a major reduction in electricity generation from fossil fuels this year, wind and solar have already started to form the backbone of the future electricity system."
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