Overview
- Wind and solar supplied about 30% of EU electricity in 2025 versus 29% from fossil fuels, with renewables overall at 47.7%, nuclear at 23.4% and coal down to a 9.2% share.
- Gas remained a key backstop at 16.7% of the mix, up roughly 8% from 2024, as Europe also saw more hours of negative wholesale prices last year and analysts at Montel EnAppSys expect further increases in 2026.
- Solar generation surged roughly 20% to around 369 TWh while wind output slipped about 2.5% to roughly 473 TWh, underscoring weather-driven variability in supply.
- Policy studies highlight batteries, stronger transmission networks and demand-side response as priorities, with the EU also committed to ending Russian pipeline gas imports by November 1, 2027.
- Offshore wind expansion has lagged with weak auction results and cost pressures, prompting calls for two-sided contracts for difference and a fresh push for North Sea coordination.