In 2025, renewable energy sources such as wind and solar produced more electricity in the European Union than fossil fuels.
According to Ember's report, solar and wind energy accounted for 30% of total generation, while fossil fuels provided only 29%.
The results of 2025 demonstrate that renewable energy, particularly solar, significantly increased its share. Over the past year, the solar energy sector grew by 20.1%, providing a record 13% of all electricity in the EU, surpassing coal and hydropower. Notable growth was observed in countries such as Cyprus, Hungary, Greece, Spain, and the Netherlands, where solar energy covers more than 20% of needs.
Wind energy accounted for 17% of total production, which also exceeded gas generation. As a result, renewable sources provided nearly half (48%) of all electricity in the EU, despite a 12% decrease in hydropower and a 2% decrease in wind energy due to adverse weather conditions.
The energy structure in the EU is changing. In 2025, in 14 out of 27 countries, the share of renewable sources exceeded that of fossil fuels, and over the past five years, this share has increased from 20% to 30%. At the same time, the share of fossil fuels decreased from 37% to 29%, while hydropower and nuclear energy remained at the same level.
The reduction in output at hydropower plants and the rise in gas prices contributed to increased fuel import costs. Gas power plants increased their output by 8%, however, their long-term performance remains 18% below the peak levels of 2019. In 2025, the EU's gas import costs amounted to 32 billion euros, which is 16% more than in 2024. This negatively impacted countries such as Italy and Germany. A sharp increase in gas consumption during peak hours contributed to an 11% rise in electricity prices compared to the previous year.
Coal energy continues to decline and reached a historic low of 9.2% in 2025.
Over the past decade, the share of coal energy has decreased almost fourfold, and in 19 EU countries, coal-fired electricity generation accounts for less than 5%. Even in coal-dependent countries like Germany and Poland, coal energy levels have reached record lows.
“This important moment demonstrates how quickly the EU is moving towards an energy system based on renewables,” commented Dr. Beatrice Petrovich, the author of the study. She also noted that reducing dependence on fossil fuels helps decrease geopolitical instability associated with global energy markets.
