Despite a slight rise (3%) in EU fossil fuel generation in 2022, the past four months following September saw declines in coal power generation, with fossil fuel generation forecasts for the region down 20% this year, according to global energy think tank Ember Climate’s European Electricity Review 2023. Last year saw EU wind and solar generate more electricity than gas for the first time, holding an electricity generation share of 22%. The EU only used a third of the 22 million tonnes of extra coal it imported during 2022, which the report suggests illustrates that “countries remain as committed to phasing out coal as they were before the [Ukraine] crisis”. The report also said there was an overall “fast fall” in EU electricity demand, which it predicts will lead to a rise in demand for electrification with a step up in heat pumps, electric vehicles and electrolysers. A report by 100% renewable electricity global initiative RE100 saw its members report its member companies consumed 49% renewable electricity in 2021.
BREAKING⚡️🇪🇺 #Solar & #Wind generated a record 1/5 of EU electricity in 2022, for the first time overtaking fossil gas.
Despite the #gascrisis and record lows in hydro and nuclear, Europe prevented a threatened return to coal power.#EER2023 https://t.co/j5ijp266xC pic.twitter.com/sfZ11fYFRa
— Ember (@EmberClimate) January 31, 2023
