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Renewables overtook fossil fuels in EU electricity mix in 2020: Report

Published 01/24/2021, 06:17 PM
Updated 01/24/2021, 07:31 PM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Middelgrunden offshore wind farm is pictured outside Copenhagen

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Middelgrunden offshore wind farm is pictured outside Copenhagen

By Susanna Twidale

LONDON (Reuters) - Renewables overtook fossil fuels as the European Union's main source of electricity for the first time in 2020 as new projects came online and coal-power shrank, a report showed on Monday.

Renewable sources such as wind and solar generated 38% percent of the 27-member state bloc's electricity in 2020, with fossil fuels such as coal and gas contributing 37%, the report by think tanks Ember and Agora Energiewende showed.

(Graphics: Electricity production share (%) in EU 27 - https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/rlgvdgxnjpo/Pasted%20image%201611313645338.png)

Denmark achieved the highest proportion of wind and solar power, which contributed 61% of its electricity needs in 2020. Ireland achieved 35% and Germany 33%.

Countries with the lowest share of renewables, below 5%, were Slovakia and the Czech Republic, the data showed.

Curbs on homes and business designed to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus led to a 4% drop in overall electricity demand in the EU last year, but the impact was felt more keenly by fossil fuel producers, the report showed.

Coal-fired power generation fell 20% in 2020 and has halved since 2015 it said.

"Coal generation fell in almost every country, continuing coal's collapse that was well in place before Covid-19,” the report said.

Many European countries are phasing out polluting coal-plants in order to meet emission reduction targets, but low electricity prices amid the pandemic lockdowns also made some coal plants unprofitable to run compared with cheaper renewable generation.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows power-generating windmill turbines in a wind farm in Morchies

"Renewables will keep rising, because we keep installing more and more. The jury’s out as to whether fossil fuels will rebound but if they do rebound it’s not expected to be by a lot," Dave Jones, Ember's senior electricity analyst said.

Latest comments

UE States contribute paying for solar panels
Like to know how much the price of electricity went up,hear many can't afford
Such a great point/question. Like i said, Reuters is too busy chasing the next 5-minute headline and its reporters chasing their next byline to take the time to develop truly round perspective articles. They could write the same “but the pandemic ...” stories without calling a single source. They truly think the pandemic is ruling the entire world. It is not.
I’m from eu. Holland in particular. My energy bill is the same as always. My provider delivers 80% coal free electricity
good to hear. Do you ever use natural gas or gasoline or oil lubricants? Are you completely oil and gas free? Look around. I doubt it.
Big gap in the story if my logoc is correct. 38% from solar and wind, and 37% from gas and coal, BUT coal fell which means reliance on natural gas rose within the fossil fuel mix. So, the demand for gas actually increased, since coal fell off. BUT, the slant of this story would have you think ALL fossil fuels are declining. Europe is going greener, Reuters’ agenda would have you think, but gasoline cars still fill their roadways and power the world.
Reuters loves to omit facts that give perspective. They just report the facts in front of them. Short term reporting and memory is what powers their agenda, hoping historical context and realities are forgotten.
Sorry man. I’m from the eu. Holland to be precise. Everybody wants solar on their roofs and Tesla’s in their garage. AIM is 30.000.000 electric cars by 2030 in eu. All public transport allready electric. Patrol stations are all being modified for charging. Parking lots to. Taxes on heavy polluting cars are up. Some cities block them from entering, or ask for additional pollution fees. China is doing beter then eu. My prediction, coal and fossil fuels will diminish in less then 2 decades.
thanks for the info. Goes to show how the government can control your choices. I can have a gasoline car OR an electric car or BOTH, and i can drive down any street i want to without paying higher taxes or being sneered at by the elitist EV crowd. Best to you anyway. Everyone deserves a good life. Peace in the world is what we all need.
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