According to a new report from energy think tank Ember, for the first six months of 2024, wind and solar power were the main sources of electricity in the European Union rather than fossil fuels. For the first time, both renewable energy sources were also the largest in Belgium.

“With the growth of solar and wind, the role of fossil fuels is diminishing,” says Ember analyst Chris Rosslowe. “We are witnessing a historic shift in the energy sector, which is happening rapidly.”

The use of fossil fuels decreased by 17%

Fast-growing wind and solar power accounted for 30% of electricity generated between January and June 2024, compared with 27% from fossil fuels. If hydroelectric plants are also considered, all renewable energy sources account for half of the EU’s electricity production, another record. Including nuclear power, almost three-quarters (73%) of electricity comes from low-carbon energy sources.

The share of fossil fuels decreased by 17% to 27%, the lowest figure ever. The most substantial decrease was in coal (-24%), but gas consumption dropped by 14%. Five EU countries, including Belgium, accounted for three-quarters of that decline. In Belgium, compared to the same period last year, the use of fossil fuels decreased by as much as 38%.

Resurgence of hydroelectric plants

The main reason for the decreased share of fossil fuels is the increased production capacity of wind and solar power, which was more than enough to cover the slightly increased demand (+0,7%).

In addition, mild weather conditions and a resurgence of hydroelectric plants (+21%) also played their part. The latter has much to do with the abundant rainfall over the past six months – previous years were much drier, which meant that much less power could be generated by hydroelectric power then.

Thirteen EU countries, including Belgium, generate more electricity from wind and sun than fossil fuels. For example, the installed capacity of solar panels in the Netherlands, per capita, has become the largest in the world. The Netherlands is also partly responsible for the growth of wind energy in EU countries (+7%).

However, in Germany, Belgium, and Hungary, more electricity was produced with solar and wind than fossil fuels. Spain also achieved another milestone: for the first time in May, more than half of the electricity was generated with wind turbines and solar panels.

Steel production often still runs on coal

All this, of course, has positive implications for the climate. Indeed, emissions from the energy sector were almost a third (-31%) lower in the first half of 2024 than during the first half of 2022. That is an unprecedented shift. Measured over seven years, it drops as much as 44%.

The EU—Europe is responsible for 11% of global power sector emissions—would like to maintain that rate of shifting, both to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to take over the role of Russian gas. Liquified natural gas from Russia is still coming into the EU, with the port of Zeebrugge as the hub.

For example, industry and heat generation depend primarily on natural gas. Steel production also often runs on coal, although there are plans to switch to hydrogen eventually. Many Eastern European countries must still catch up because they depend on fossil fuels for their electricity.