Renewables beat fossil fuels: A half-yearly analysis of Europe’s electricity transition

In the first half of 2020, renewable electricity generation in the EU-27 reached 40%, surpassing fossil fuel generation at 34%. This shift was driven by record wind and solar penetration and a 7% drop in electricity demand caused by COVID-19. Coal generation fell by 32%, contributing to a 23% reduction in power sector CO2 emissions. While grids remained stable, the increase in renewables led to more frequent negative wholesale electricity prices, indicating a need for greater system flexibility. Poland emerged as the most coal-dependent EU country, generating as much coal-fired electricity as the other 25 EU members combined.

• For the first time, renewable electricity generation exceeded fossil fuel generation in the EU-27 during the first half of 2020, with renewables accounting for 40% and fossil fuels for 34%.
• Fossil fuel generation decreased by 18% in H1 2020, primarily due to a 7% decline in electricity demand linked to COVID-19 and mild weather. Coal was the most affected, falling by 32%, while gas generation fell by 6%. This resulted in a reduction of EU-27 power sector CO2 emissions by approximately 23%, or 76 million tonnes.
• Wind and solar reached a record 21% of total electricity generation in Europe during H1 2020, with particularly high penetration in Denmark (64%), Ireland (49%), and Germany (42%).
• Poland has become the most coal-reliant EU member, generating as much coal-fired electricity as the other 25 EU countries combined, and lacks a coal phase-out plan.
• Despite grid stability, the rise of variable renewables has increased the occurrence of negative wholesale electricity prices, signaling a lack of system flexibility. Negative prices appeared for the first time in the UK, Netherlands, Finland, and Hungary, while Ireland experienced them 5% of the time in H1 2020.

APA

Lytton, W. (2020). Renewables beat fossil fuels: A half-yearly analysis of Europe’s electricity transition. Ember. https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/eu-electricity-analysis-h1-2020

Chicago

Lytton, Wilf. Renewables beat fossil fuels: A half-yearly analysis of Europe’s electricity transition. Ember, 2020. https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/eu-electricity-analysis-h1-2020.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lytton |first1=Wilf |title=Renewables beat fossil fuels: A half-yearly analysis of Europe’s electricity transition |publisher=Ember |date=22 July 2020 |url=https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/eu-electricity-analysis-h1-2020 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lytton2020renewables, author = {Lytton, Wilf}, title = {{Renewables beat fossil fuels: A half-yearly analysis of Europe’s electricity transition}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2020}, month = jul, url = {https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/eu-electricity-analysis-h1-2020}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }