The findings were presented by the clean energy think tank Ember, which analyses changes in Europe’s power sector from January to June 2023 to measure the progress of its clean energy transition.
1. Fossil in decline
EU reliance on fossil fuels registered a significant drop, with fossil fuels generating only 33% of the EU’s electricity in the first six months of 2023, the lowest ever, according to Ember. Overall, fossil fuel generation collapsed by 17% to lowest on record. The collapse was led by coal, which fell by a staggering 23% in the EU in the first half of the year, while gas decreased by 13% year-on-year, reads the study.
In May, coal set a record by generating less than 10% of the EU’s electricity generation for the first time ever. A mild winter also saw energy use fall by 5% in the first half of 2023.
“The decline in fossil fuels is a sign of the times,” said Matt Ewen, Ember analyst and author of the report.
Coal and gas are too expensive, too risky, and the EU is cutting them out.
Matt Ewen, Ember analyst and author of the report
2. Up to 30% collapse
The drop was Europe-wide, with a fall of at least 20% in eleven countries, and more than 30% in five — Portugal, Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland. Fourteen countries saw their lowest total fossil generation on record for the period, with Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Poland and Slovenia at the lowest fossil output since at least 2000.
Russian gas pipeline imports also fell dramatically, slashed by 75% to 13 bcm in the first half of 2023, a drop from 50 bcm compared to the previous year. Ember concluded that, as alternatives to Russian gas supply were sourced and EU storage replenished, gas prices fell below the spikes in 2022.
3. Clean power
As the reliance on fossil fuels drops, renewable energy sems to be gaining track. Solar power continues to grow in the EU, generating 13% more electricity in the first six months of the 2023 than it did during the same period in 2022.
Overall, the rapid expansion of renewable ambitions has seen the bloc continue to break records. The first half of the year was no exception with wind and solar accounting for 30% of energy generation for the first time in May and July. However, wind generation rose by 4.8%, a modest increase compared to the previous year. Despite countries ‘increased ambitions, the process in getting permits for infrastructure is still a challenge.
“We need to see clean power replacing fossil fuels faster. A massive push, especially on solar and wind, is urgently needed to underpin a resilient economy across Europe,” urged Ewen.
