Electricity generated by wind and solar installations in the European Union last year accounted for 30% of the bloc’s total output last year, exceeding the combined share of gas and coal by 1% for the first time, climate outlet Ember reported today.
The 2025 share of coal and gas, at 29%, was a slight increase in 2024, when the two fuels together accounted for 28.6% of the European Union’s total power generation. That was down from 44.1% in 2017, the highest for the ten years between 2015 and 2025.
Solar generation specifically went up by 20% on the year in 2025, to a total of 369 TWh. At the same time, excessive solar generation last year led to a record number of hours with negative electricity prices in parts of the European Union, affecting profitability in the industry and causing a slowdown in new capacity additions.
Excessive generation from intermittent sources also increased vulnerability on the grid, with 2025 seeing 8,645 voltage surges, according to data from ENTSO-E, the EU grid operators’ association. The figure represents a 2,000% increase from 2015, when there were 34 surges.
Wind and solar in Europe last year helped compensate for lower hydropower generation caused by droughts, Ember also said in its report, adding that gas generation increased 8% over the period, while coal generation fell to 9.2% – the lowest ever. Even with the increase, wind, solar, and nuclear together represented as much as 71% of the EU’s energy generation in 2025, making its grid mostly low-carbon.
This year, however, has started with a significant increase in coal power generation in Germany amid winter weather, a seasonal low for solar generation, and a drop in carbon permit prices. Indeed, coal power plants in the EU’s largest economy returned to profit due to that combination of factors this month.
By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com
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