BarcelonaWind and solar power generated more electricity than fossil fuels in the European Union (EU) for the first time in 2025. The two energy sources together reached a record 30% of electricity generation in the EU, compared to fossil fuels, which accounted for 29%, according to the annual benchmark report European Electricity Reviewof the think tank British Ember, which offers a comprehensive overview of the electricity system in Europe.
Signs of structural change are clear across the EU, the report says, with wind and solar generating more electricity than all fossil sources combined in 14 of the 27 EU countries last year. This change is also reflected in the evolution of the last five years, during which these sources have experienced massive growth across the Union and have gone from 20% in 2020 to 30% in 2025. For their part, fossil fuels as a source of electricity have fallen from 37% to 29% in the same period, according to the report.
Despite this, gas-fired electricity generation increased by 8% in the EU by 2025, mainly due to reduced hydropower production. However, gas remains in a long-term decline in the EU and last year was still 18% below its 2019 peak. The gas surge lifted the EU electricity sector’s gas import bill to €32 billion by 2025, up 16% on the previous year. In addition, peak gas usage times led to spikes in electricity prices, with an average increase of 11% in these periods compared to 2024, the report says.
storage
An important element to further enhance renewables are batteries, practically the only system for storing solar energy when the sun is not shining or wind energy when the wind is not blowing. Batteries are an open subject, with the report highlighting that almost half of the EU’s grid-scale batteries remain concentrated in Italy and Germany. However, the report claims that work has started or projects have been announced in most EU countries for storage projects.
Regarding the Spanish state, the report highlights that wind and solar together reached 42% of electricity generation by 2025. Solar energy generated a record 22% of Spanish electricity last year. Also, while current battery capacity is low relative to installed wind and solar power capacity, the project backlog reached record levels, says the think thank.
Although gas-fired electricity generation increased 19% in the state, it remained 28% below 2022 peaks, says this report, which attributes the increase in gas use to measures taken after the big blackout last April 28. Therefore, it is indicated that the increase is expected to be temporary.
“The EU’s next priority should be to seriously reduce dependence on expensive, imported gas,” says Beatrice Petrovich, senior energy analyst at Ember. “Gas not only makes the EU more vulnerable to energy blackmail, but also makes prices more expensive”, he points out. For his part, Wilmar Suárez, energy analyst at Ember, points out that “there is a huge opportunity for batteries in Spain. As one of the main producers of solar energy in Europe, the battery projects would allow Spain to use this renewable generation at times of peak gas consumption to further reduce electricity prices”.
