EU Generated 52% of Its Electricity from Renewables in Q2 2024

New data shows that renewables generated more than half (52%) of the European Union’s electricity in the second quarter of 2024, marking a significant step in the region’s energy transition. This increase in renewable energy drove down fossil fuel consumption, which dropped to just 24% of the total electricity mix, and helped lower household electricity prices in EU capital cities by 8% compared to the same period last year, according to the European Commission.

Renewables’ share rose by 6 percentage points in a year, while nuclear power also increased slightly, comprising 24% of the total electricity mix. Altogether, clean energy sources accounted for 76% of the EU’s electricity generation.

Offshore wind generation saw impressive growth, surging by 37% year on year, while hydropower increased by 21%, solar by 20%, and onshore wind by 6%. In contrast, coal-fired generation fell by 7%, and gas output dropped by 24%.

Europe’s progress in clean energy is partly attributed to its carbon pricing system, which charges for emissions and averaged €69 per tonne in the second quarter—though this was a 21% decrease from the previous year.

During the same quarter, 567,000 new electric vehicles (EVs) were sold in the EU, accounting for 20% of the new vehicle market. This marked a 5% decline from the previous year, partly due to subsidy reductions in key markets.