Greenhouse gas emissions from power generation in the European Union fell sharply again in 2024 amid an ongoing shift towards renewable technologies, according to data from the bloc’s industry association.
Emissions were down 13% from a year before, and were 59% lower than 1990 levels, Eurelectric said in a statement.
Renewables made up 48% of the EU’s power generation mix in 2024, up from 45%, while nuclear contributed 24%, a 1 percentage point increase. Fossil fuels comprised just 28% of the total – the lowest share ever.
Meanwhile, the average day-ahead wholesale electricity price was €82 per megawatt, a 16% decline from 2023 levels.
The data “proves once again that investing in higher renewable generation is the right path for a more competitive and decarbonised economy,” said Cillian O’Donoghue, policy director at Eurelectric. However, more “firm and flexible” capacity was needed to limit the region’s reliance on costly fossil fuels.
O’Donoghue said it was concerning that demand for electricity still remained below pre-crisis levels, indicating that the EU was not making enough progress on electrification and manufacturers were struggling.
Industrial electrification should be a priority for the new European Commission, as this would bolster the bloc’s competitiveness.
“Electrification remains the low-hanging fruit to decarbonise the EU,” O’Donoghue said. “The more you electrify your energy applications the easier you decarbonise, but demand for electricity is not where it should be today.”
