A landmark shift has taken place in the European Union’s power sector, with wind and solar energy overtaking fossil fuels for the first time in 2025, according to a new report. This development marks a strategic turning point for the bloc as it seeks to reduce its reliance on external energy sources amid geopolitical tensions.
The annual review by the Ember think tank found that turbines and photovoltaic panels generated 30% of the EU’s electricity last year, surpassing the 29% share from coal, oil and gas power plants. Beatrice Petrovich, the lead author of the report, described this as a “major tipping point” that holds profound implications beyond the power sector.
“The danger of relying on fossil fuels looms large in destabilised geopolitics,” Petrovich warned, alluding to growing tensions between the EU and the United States, its primary supplier of liquefied natural gas. At the recent Davos summit, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick criticised Europe’s renewable energy adoption, arguing that its lack of domestic battery manufacturing risks making it “subservient” to China.
The data shows a renewable energy boom, led by a record 13% share of EU power generation from solar. Five countries, including the Netherlands, now meet over 20% of their electricity needs from solar. Wind turbines remained the second-largest source at 17%, though their output dipped slightly from the previous year.
Meanwhile, fossil gas saw an 8% increase in usage, largely due to a weather-related drop in hydropower. However, coal’s contribution fell to a historic low of under 10%, concentrated mainly in Germany and Poland.
Petra Katinas, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, praised the rapid scaling of clean power, noting that “solar alone grew by more than 20% in a single year, proving that clean power can scale faster than any conventional technology.” The challenge now, Katinas said, is upgrading grids, batteries and flexibility to fully integrate the expanding renewable energy capacity.
Energy experts have long emphasised that a carbon-free economy will rely heavily on solar and wind power. However, the report found early signs that battery storage is starting to meet evening demand peaks, potentially reducing the need for costly gas-fired generation and the risk of stranded fossil fuel assets.
As policymakers and investors assess the energy landscape, Petrovich advised them to “seriously start questioning if plans for new gas plants are inflated” to avoid burdening taxpayers and stranded assets. The renewable energy surge appears to have reached a critical juncture, positioning the EU to further solidify its clean energy transition in the years ahead.