Energy
Electricity has never been as green in Europe as in 2023. For the first time, more power came from wind than from gas and CO₂ emissions from electricity generation fell by 19%. “A monumental shift.”
Power from coal fell by 26% in 2023, power from gas by 15%. The greening of the European energy market has accelerated and the energy crisis following the Russian invasion has not led to a renaissance of fossil energy. This is evident from the European Electricity Review by the think tank Ember. “Coal is nearing the point of phase-out, gas is next to decline,” says researcher Sarah Brown. This is also reflected in the CO₂ emissions. It has also fallen by a fifth in the electricity sector. Another record. The CO₂ reduction is even greater than during the corona lockdown in 2020.
The think tank Ember calls it a “monumental shift”. “The role of fossil fuels in energy supply is becoming smaller than ever and wind and solar are becoming its backbone,” Brown said. She warns that this should not be a reason to become complacent, and that the EU must remain sharply focused on the further development of wind and solar energy and sufficient flexibility in the power supply.
Wind and solar now account for 27% of European electricity. Add hydropower to that, and 44% of European electricity is sustainable. Nuclear energy, which also does not release CO₂, remains the most important power source at 23%.
Due to savings, less industrial production and good weather, 6.4% less electricity was consumed in 2023 than in 2021. This will not last. Lower energy prices and the rollout of electric cars and heat pumps will boost demand again from 2024, Ember expects. By 2030 even by 60%. Therefore, additional effort remains necessary to achieve the 2030 goals.
