2025 at a glance

In 2025, the EU power sector reached a tipping point as wind and solar generated 30.1% of electricity, surpassing all fossil fuel sources at 29.0%. Solar generation hit a record 369 TWh, growing by 20.1% over 2024, while coal fell to a historic low of 9.2% of the mix. Despite a slight increase in gas power generation and associated import costs, renewables provided nearly half of the EU's electricity (47.7%), with solar output helping to offset low wind and hydro production caused by unusual weather in early 2025.

• For the first time in 2025, wind and solar electricity generation in the EU surpassed that of all fossil fuel sources. Wind and solar accounted for 30.1% (841 TWh) of the mix, while fossil sources provided 29.0% (809 TWh). This milestone was achieved in 14 of the 27 EU countries, with the Netherlands and Croatia reaching this point for the first time in 2025.
• Solar power experienced record growth in 2025, increasing by 62 TWh (+20.1%) compared to 2024 to reach a total of 369 TWh. This growth was driven by a 19% increase in cumulative installed capacity (65.1 GW), split nearly equally between rooftop installations and utility-scale farms. Solar's share of annual EU electricity generation exceeded 13%, with shares above 20% in Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary, and the Netherlands.
• Renewables provided 47.7% (1331 TWh) of EU electricity in 2025. The share remained stable despite a difficult first quarter where unusually warm North Atlantic temperatures led to a 23% drop in average wind speeds and 33% lower rainfall in Northern Europe. These conditions caused wind production to fall 18% in the first four months of 2025, but were offset by exceptionally sunny conditions that boosted solar output in Belgium (+26%), the Netherlands (+21%), Germany (+15%), and France (+10%).
• Gas power generation increased by 34 TWh (+8%) in 2025, though it remained 18% below its 2019 peak and lower than wind power for the third consecutive year. The increase was concentrated in Spain, Italy, and Germany, who together accounted for 60% of the rise. This increase, alongside higher prices, led to a €32 billion fossil gas import bill for power generation, a 16% increase from 2024.
• Coal generation reached a new historic low of 9.2% (257 TWh) of the EU power mix in 2025. The fuel is now highly concentrated in Germany and Poland, which together represented over 74% of EU coal generation. Ireland ceased burning coal in June 2025, and Finland effectively phased it out in April 2025.

APA

Ember (2026). 2025 at a glance. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/2025-at-a-glance/

Chicago

Ember. 2025 at a glance. 2026. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/2025-at-a-glance/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Ember |title=2025 at a glance |date=22 January 2026 |url=https://ember-energy.org/chapter/2025-at-a-glance/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ember20262025, author = {{Ember}}, title = {{2025 at a glance}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2026}, month = jan, url = {https://ember-energy.org/chapter/2025-at-a-glance/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }