Wind and Solar Made More Electricity Than Fossil Fuels in the EU in 2025
Published · 2 min read
For the first time ever, wind and solar energy produced more electricity than fossil fuels in the European Union (EU) in 2025, according to a new annual report by the Ember energy think tank. This marks a major shift toward cleaner power in Europe.
Big Clean-Energy Numbers for 2025
- Wind and solar generated 30 % of the EU’s electricity last year.
- Fossil fuels (coal, gas and oil) produced 29 %.
- Solar power alone hit a record share of 13 % of EU electricity.
- Wind power contributed about 17 %.
This was driven by rapid growth in solar installations and continued strong wind production across many EU countries.
What This Means
Clean Power Is Becoming Mainstream
Wind and solar becoming the largest sources of electricity shows that renewable energy is becoming the backbone of Europe’s power system. Many countries including Spain, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands and Cyprus generated more than a fifth of their electricity from solar alone.
Fossil Fuels Declining
- Coal use fell to a record low, contributing less than 10 % of EU electricity.
- Fossil gas increased slightly (by about 8 %), partly due to lower hydropower from drought, but still lagged behind wind and solar.
Clean Electricity Overall
When including nuclear energy and other low-carbon sources, low-carbon electricity (renewables + nuclear) accounted for around 71 % of the EU’s total power last year. That means most electricity in Europe now comes from zero- or low-emission sources.
Challenges and Next Steps
Even though wind and solar now beat fossil fuels in electricity generation, some challenges remain:
- Grid upgrades and storage are needed so that extra clean power isn’t wasted and can be delivered when needed.
- Europe still depends on gas imports for some electricity, which can affect prices when weather changes reduce hydropower.
- Political resistance in some countries has slowed certain clean-energy policies.
Experts say continued investment in batteries, smart grids and renewable capacity is key to keeping the transition going smoothly.
Bottom Line
In 2025, wind and solar energy overtook fossil fuels in the EU’s electricity mix for the first time — a major milestone in the shift toward cleaner energy. This shows renewables are not just growing fast, but becoming central to how Europe powers its homes and businesses, even as challenges remain on infrastructure and policy fronts.
