Renewables Overtake Fossil Fuels In Europe

The coronavirus pandemic has played its part in helping renewable energy beat fossil fuels to provide electricity generation across the European Union. Wind, solar, hydro and bioenergy beat fossils, providing 40 per cent of the 27 countries in the EO for the first six months of 2020, with fossil fuels only providing 34 per cent according to a climate think-tank which studies global electricity transition. Electricity demand may have fallen during the pandemic due to many factories and businesses being in lockdown, but renewables still rose by 11 per cent, while fossil fuel dropped by 18 per cent. In Denmark and impressive 64 per cent of electricity was generated by wind and solar, and according to Dave Jones from Ember, the think-tank behind the study, the trend will continue forever, spelling an end to fossil fuel dominating. He said: “This marks a symbolic moment in the transition of Europe’s electricity sector. Renewables generated more electricity than fossil fuels, driven by wind and solar replacing coal. That’s fast progress from just nine years ago when fossil fuels generated twice as much as renewables. But the change is not equal: Poland is now Europe’s biggest coal generator and Czechia is the third largest. For countries like Poland and Czechia there is now a clear way out, should they choose to take it. Europe’s Next Generation recovery deal can help countries fast-track their coal to clean transition by using stimulus spending to immediately step up wind and solar investment, and an expanded Just Transition Fund to move away from coal.” Energy firms are doing their bit. Your business can contribute by offsetting emissions today.