The European Union’s transition to cleaner energy reached a major milestone in 2024, with renewables playing a bigger role than ever before in electricity generation. Recent figures show continued progress towards climate goals as fossil fuel use continues to fall.
Renewable energy generation rose again in 2024
In 2024, nearly half of all electricity in the EU came from renewable sources, with renewables accounting for 47.3% of total generation. This marked a 7.7% rise in output from the previous year and reflected a broader shift away from traditional fuels. Solar energy remains one of the fastest-growing contributors. The BBC has a guide that explains solar energy.
Fossil fuel use dropped to record lows
The use of fossil fuels for electricity continued its downward trend, making up just 29.2% of the EU’s power mix. Brown coal and hard coal saw significant drops, reaching their lowest levels since records began. While the oil and petroleum supply declined slightly, natural gas usage stayed relatively steady.
Nuclear power saw a small increase
Although the focus has been on expanding renewables, nuclear energy also saw a modest rise in 2024. It accounted for 23.4% of electricity generation across the EU, with output increasing by 4.8% compared to the previous year. While not renewable, nuclear continues to play a key role in supporting the energy mix during the transition to low-carbon sources.
EU’s long-term climate targets remain in focus
Alongside these gains, the European Commission has proposed a legally binding target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040. This forms part of the broader goal to reach climate neutrality by 2050 and is backed by scientific assessments and policy advisors.
Measures such as this are expected to shape future investment decisions, with a stronger push towards renewables and reduced reliance on fossil fuels. As a result, more businesses are expanding into low-carbon technologies; for example, companies like https://gsmlimited.com/services/air-source-heat-pumps/worcester/ offer air source heat pumps Worcester to meet growing demand for cleaner home heating options.
The EU’s energy landscape is changing fast, with renewables leading the way in power generation.