Solar overtakes coal in the EU for first time, a trend China has benefited from

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Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Jake Larsen (Video Editor), Mohammed Ali (Senior Motion Designer)

Solar power has overtaken coal in the European Union’s electricity mix for the first time ever, according to a report released Jan. 23 by the energy think tank Ember. However, the success of solar in the EU is significantly benefiting Chinese manufacturers.

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How much of the EU’s energy total did solar and coal account for?

Solar energy, now the EU’s fastest-growing power source, accounted for 11% of the bloc’s electricity in 2024, up from 9.3% the previous year. In contrast, coal’s share fell below 10%, the lowest level recorded since Ember began tracking the data in 2011.

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Chris Rosslowe, the lead author of the Ember report, noted that the reduced reliance on coal and gas has saved the EU an estimated nearly $62 billion in fossil fuel imports since 2019.

Why does this surge in EU solar capacity benefit China?

China has played a central role in the EU’s solar success, supplying around 95% of the bloc’s solar panels. In an attempt to combat this trend, the EU has set a nonbinding target of achieving 40% self-sufficiency in solar panel production by 2030.

However, some experts warn that pursuing such a strategy could increase solar panel costs, slow the deployment of new capacity and lead to an industry heavily dependent on subsidies.

Tags: China, Coal, Europe, European Union, Rare earth metals, Renewable energy, Solar panels, solar power

[Jack Aylmer]

SOLAR POWER HAS OVERTAKEN COAL IN THE EUROPEAN UNION’S ELECTRICITY MIX FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER-

A DEVELOPMENT CHINA PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN MAKING HAPPEN.

THE NEWS OF SOLAR GENERATING MORE POWER THAN COAL IN THE EU COMES FROM NEW RESEARCH RELEASED THIS WEEK BY THE ENERGY THINK TANK EMBER.

THE SURGE IN SOLAR-

NOW THE FASTEST-GROWING POWER SOURCE IN THE EU-

ACCOUNTED FOR 11% OF THE BLOC’S ELECTRICITY IN 2024, UP FROM 9.3% THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

MEANWHILE, COAL’S SHARE FELL BELOW 10%—THE LOWEST MARK RECORDED SINCE EMBER BEGAN TRACKING DATA IN 2011.

THE EMBER REPORT’S LEAD AUTHOR NOTED THAT DROP IN COAL AND GAS USE HAS SAVED THE EU AN ESTIMATED NEARLY 62 BILLION DOLLARS IN FOSSIL FUEL IMPORTS SINCE 2019.

HOWEVER, THE SUCCESS OF SOLAR IN THE EU HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL TO CHINESE MANUFACTURERS-

WITH ABOUT 95% OF THE BLOC’S SOLAR PANELS COMING FROM CHINA.

TO HELP COMBAT THIS TREND, THE EU HAS AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO A NON-BINDING 40 PERCENT SELF-SUFFICIENCY BENCHMARK FOR SOLAR PANELS TO BE APPROACHED OR ACHIEVED BY 2030.

ALTHOUGH EXPERTS HAVE SAID SUCH A STRATEGY POSES RISKS-

INCLUDING INCREASING THE COSTS OF SOLAR PANELS-

SLOWING DEPLOYMENT OF MORE ENERGY CAPACITY-

AND CREATING AN INDUSTRY THAT IS OVER-RELIANT ON SUBSIDIES.

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