For the first time in history, wind and solar together generated more electricity across the European Union than any other power source in 2022 C.E. — including gas and nuclear. The milestone came during one of Europe’s most turbulent energy years on record, and it signals a fundamental shift in how the continent powers itself.
At a glance
- Wind and solar share: Wind and solar generated a record 22.3% of EU electricity in 2022 C.E., overtaking nuclear at 21.9% and gas at 19.9% for the first time ever.
- Solar power growth: Solar generation rose by a record 24% in 2022 C.E., with 41 gigawatts of new capacity added — nearly 50% more than in 2021 C.E.
- Fossil fuel outlook: With wind and solar continuing to grow and hydro and nuclear expected to recover, EU fossil fuel power generation could fall by an unprecedented 20% in 2023 C.E.
A crisis that clean energy helped absorb
The 2022 C.E. milestone is more remarkable given the conditions under which it was reached. Europe faced what analysts at the climate think tank Ember called a “triple crisis”: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted gas supplies that had previously met roughly a third of European demand; a once-in-500-year drought pushed hydro generation to its lowest level since at least 2000 C.E.; and a wave of unexpected outages hit French nuclear plants just as Germany was closing its remaining reactors.
Together, those disruptions created a gap equal to about 7% of total EU electricity demand. Wind and solar — alongside a significant drop in electricity consumption — covered roughly 83% of that gap. Coal filled most of the rest, but its role was far smaller than many feared. Coal generation rose 7% overall in 2022 C.E., but it remained below 2018 C.E. levels and contributed just 0.3% to global coal generation for the year.
The 26 coal units brought back as emergency standby ran at only 18% capacity in the final four months of the year. Nine of them produced no electricity at all.
Solar sets records across the continent
Solar was the standout performer. The 24% increase in solar generation across the EU in 2022 C.E. helped avoid an estimated €10 billion in gas costs, according to Ember’s analysis. From May through August, solar alone provided 12% of EU power — the first summer it had ever exceeded 10%.
Twenty EU countries set national records for solar’s share of their electricity mix. The Netherlands led the group, sourcing 14% of its power from solar and overtaking coal for the first time. Greece ran entirely on renewables for five hours in October 2022 C.E. and is now on track to hit its 2030 C.E. solar capacity target of 8 gigawatts roughly seven years ahead of schedule.
The broader trend has been building for years. Wind and solar overtook hydro power in 2015 C.E. and coal in 2019 C.E. The 2022 C.E. milestone — surpassing both nuclear and gas — marks the latest and largest step in that progression.
What comes next
Ember projects that the momentum will accelerate. As wind and solar capacity keeps growing and both hydro and nuclear generation recover from their 2022 C.E. lows, fossil fuel power could drop by a record 20% in 2023 C.E. — double the previous record set in 2020 C.E. Gas is expected to fall faster than coal, since gas prices are likely to remain higher than coal prices through at least 2025 C.E.
Dave Jones, head of data insights at Ember and lead author of the European Electricity Review, says the energy crisis has “undoubtedly sped up Europe’s electricity transition.” He argues that European countries are now not only committed to phasing out coal but are also moving toward phasing out gas — a goal that would have seemed distant just a few years ago.
That said, the transition is still uneven. Electricity demand fell sharply in late 2022 C.E. partly because of economic strain and high energy prices — not just efficiency or conservation. And coal’s role, however limited, still pushed EU power sector emissions up by nearly 4% for the year. Progress is real, but the path ahead requires continued investment and policy follow-through across all 27 member states.
The 2022 C.E. numbers confirm that renewable energy has moved from a promising alternative to the dominant force in European electricity. The question now is how fast the rest of the global energy system can follow.
Read more
For more on this story, see: Carbon Brief
For more from Good News for Humankind, see:
- Renewables now make up at least 49% of global power capacity
- U.K. cancer death rates down to their lowest level on record
- The Good News for Humankind archive on renewable energy
About this article
- 🤖 This article is AI-generated, based on a framework created by Peter Schulte.
- 🌍 It aims to be inspirational but clear-eyed, accurate, and evidence-based, and grounded in care for the Earth, peace and belonging for all, and human evolution.
- 💬 Leave your notes and suggestions in the comments below — I will do my best to review and implement where appropriate.
- ✉️ One verified piece of good news, one insight from Antihero Project, every weekday morning. Subscribe free.
