Green Electricity Use in the EU: Which Countries Lead the Way?
Published · Updated · 2 min read
Many European Union (EU) countries are using more green electricity — power generated from renewable sources like wind, solar and hydropower. Across the EU, the share of electricity from renewable sources is nearly half of all power used.
Top Countries With the Most Renewable Electricity
According to recent data on electricity use:
Austria tops the EU list, with nearly 90 % of its electricity coming from renewable sources like hydropower and wind.
Sweden — Strong Renewable Mix
Sweden is close behind at about 88 % renewable electricity, mostly from hydropower and wind.
Denmark — Big Wind Power Leader
Denmark also ranks high, with around 80 % of its electricity coming from green power, mostly from its large onshore and offshore wind farms.
Other countries with large shares of renewable electricity include:
- Portugal — about 66 %
- Spain — about 60 %
- Croatia — about 58 %
Some EU countries still rely more on fossil fuels (like coal and gas) for their electricity mix. These include:
- Malta — around 11 %
- Czech Republic — about 18 %
- Luxembourg — about 20 %
- Hungary and Cyprus — around 24 %
Even in countries with lower shares, the use of solar and wind power is growing over time as renewables expand throughout Europe.
How Green Electricity Is Growing Across the EU
The overall use of renewable electricity has risen dramatically over the past 20 years.
For example:
- In 2004, renewables made up only about 16 % of EU electricity.
- Today, that share is much higher across many countries, thanks to major solar and wind investments.
In 2025, significant milestones include:
- Renewables, including wind and solar, supplied about half of all EU electricity generation in some quarters.
- Countries like Denmark, Latvia, Austria and Croatia reported renewable shares above 85 %.
Why These Numbers Matter
Using more green electricity helps countries:
- Reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change
- Cut reliance on imported fossil fuels
- Create more local clean energy jobs
Wind and solar energy are rapidly growing, making them central to Europe’s energy future. Even countries with low renewable shares are increasing their use over time as solar, wind and other clean technologies become cheaper and more widespread.
Bottom Line
Some EU members — like Austria, Sweden and Denmark — produce a very high share of their electricity from renewable sources, often over 80 %. Other countries still depend more on fossil fuels, but overall the EU is moving steadily toward cleaner electricity for more homes and businesses.
