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Wind and Solar Overtake Fossil Power in EU for First Time in 2025

Analysts say the milestone exposes strains from variability, rising demand and missing flexibility.

Overview

  • Think tank Ember reports wind and solar supplied about 30% of EU electricity in 2025 versus 29% from fossil fuels, with renewables at 47.7%, nuclear at 23.4%, coal at a record-low 9.2% and gas up to 16.7%.
  • Despite the shift, the EU remains exposed to gas, and governments have agreed to end long‑term pipeline imports from Russia by November 1, 2027 to reduce energy security risks.
  • Europe-wide generation data from Montel EnAppSys show total renewable output fell to 1,333 TWh in 2025 as wind and hydropower weakened even as solar jumped roughly 14%, with negative-price hours rising and expected to increase further in 2026.
  • Independent research highlights that global electricity demand is growing faster than renewable supply, driven by data centers, cooling and EVs, which limits near-term CO₂ reductions from the power sector.
  • Offshore build-out is lagging targets with weak 2025 additions and bottlenecks in costs, permitting and grids; industry pushes tools like contracts for difference as North Sea cooperation talks are scheduled in Hamburg next week.