Wind and solar power produced more electricity than fossil fuels in the EU last month, a new analysis from energy think tank Ember revealed Thursday.
Around 59 terawatt-hours (TWh), or almost 31%, of the EU鈥檚 electricity was produced from wind and solar plants, while fossil fuels generated a record low of 27% at 53 TWh in May.
"Europe鈥檚 electricity transition has hit hyperdrive," according to Ember鈥檚 Europe lead, Sarah Brown. "Clean power keeps smashing record after record."
The new milestone was driven by solar growth, strong wind performance and low electricity demand.
Wind power generated 32 TWh, or 17%, of EU electricity in May, lower than the record set in January this year when wind produced 54 TWh, or 23%, of the EU鈥檚 electricity.
Exceeding the monthly solar records set in July last year, solar plants generated a record 14% of EU electricity last month, hitting an all-time high of 27 TWh.
Also, EU solar generation overtook coal generation for the first time, with coal generating just 10% of the EU鈥檚 electricity in May.
The record-low coal generation in May was just below the previous record set during the pandemic lockdowns, when coal power generated slightly above 10% of EU electricity in April 2020.
Fossil gas, meanwhile, recorded the lowest share of generation since 2018 at just 15% of the EU's electricity in May.
By Duygu Alhan
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr