This year will be unforgettable for the energy world. A historic milestone marked the first six months of 2020: production of energy from renewable sources in Europe exceeded that from fossil fuels. Across the 27 countries of the European Union, alternative sources accounted for 40 per cent of production, while traditional ones covered only 34 per cent. In five years, the gap has halved. The benefits for the environment? A 23 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

These findings come from a study conducted by the independent think tank Ember and published on 22 July. The research draws on data from transmission system operators of national grids (TSOs) grouped within the Entso-E association.

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NEW REPORT | #Renewables beat #fossilfuels for the first time in Europe!

Coal-fired electricity reaches historic low in the first half of 2020, squeezed on two fronts by growth in wind and solar and falling demand due to COVID-19 lockdowns.

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Renewables up 11% in a year

Ember reveals that renewable energy production grew by an average of 11 per cent compared to the first half of 2019, boosted by a mild and windy start to the year. Solar recorded +16 per cent, wind +11 per cent, and hydropower +12 per cent. This was driven by new wind and solar installations in the EU, which covered 21 per cent of production. The highest concentration was recorded in Denmark (64 per cent), Ireland (49) and Germany (42).

Fossil fuels in decline, coal down 32%

Conversely, fossil fuel production was hit by the fall in demand caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This brought about another milestone: Germany failed to match Poland's coal output. Across the EU-27, coal generation fell by 32 per cent and lignite generation by 29 per cent. Production from gas, widely regarded as the most transition-friendly energy carrier, also recorded a 6 per cent decline.

"It's incredibly fast progress compared to just nine years ago, when fossil fuels generated twice as much as renewables," comments Dave Jones, senior electricity analyst at Ember. "The economic recovery plan, Next Generation EU, can help countries accelerate the energy transition by investing in wind and solar. The Just Transition Fund can help phase out coal production."

Coal power plants: Europe's contrasting faces

Even if 2020 is the year renewables overtook fossil fuels, for the dark soul of Poland the time for conversion has not yet come. In that country, coal production equals that of 25 states combined, and there is no plan for closing coal-fired power plants. This shows just how decisive its contribution will be on the EU's path towards an energy transition.

By contrast, other member states have brought forward their closures. The latest to do so, after Austria and Sweden, is Portugal. Portuguese utility Edp announced the early shutdown of the Sines power plant, originally scheduled for 2021–2023. The utility declared that the fossil fuel source is less cost-competitive than its green counterpart, a reason that will lead it to close or convert other plants, including in Spain.

It's incredibly fast progress compared to just nine years ago, when fossil fuels generated twice as much as renewables

Dave Jones, senior electricity analyst at Ember

By 2025, another seven countries will halt production from these plants. They are France (2022), Slovakia (2023), Portugal (2023), Ireland (2025) and, last of all, Italy (2025). Belgium, meanwhile, set its own personal record: it closed the door on coal back in 2016.