Wind and solar generated a record 24% of EU electricity from March to September this year (345 terawatt hours), growing a record 39 TWh year-on-year, up from 21% of EU electricity in the same period last year. Nineteen EU countries achieved a wind and solar record, including France (14%), Italy (20%), Poland (17%) and Spain (35%). The record increase in wind and solar compared to last year avoided the need for eight billion cubic metres of additional fossil gas at a cost of €11 billion.
The study shows that past policy choices that increased the EU’s dependency on gas and held back the EU’s renewable and energy efficiency ambition are the main drivers of Europe’s record-high inflation now. Nevertheless, existing wind and solar capacity avoided considerable high-priced gas imports and thus prevented an even higher inflation and deeper crisis.
Wind and solar are already helping European citizens, but the future potential is even greater.
In their analysis, E3G and Ember conclude that the European Commission’s RePowerEU ambition has the potential to reduce Europe’s exposure to costly gas imports significantly and quickly, strengthening its energy and price security. For that, it would need to be supported by EU Member States and the European Parliament and put into legislation, currently subject to negotiations.
EU/International: Bloomberg, CNN, Politico, Euractiv, Euronews, EU Observer
Germany: Focus, Die Welt, Stern, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Tagesspiegel
Italy: Icona Clima, Ohga
Portugal: Público
Greece: ProtoThema, Newmoney
Austria: Krone
Bulgaria: Bulgarian Telegraph Agency
Latvia: Baltijas Balss, Delfi
Slovakia: Čas
France: Courrier International
Turkey: Anadolu Agency, Haberler
Hong Kong: South China Morning Post
China: Financial Associated Press,
India: Business Standard
Vietnam: Báo Mới
Brazil: CNN
Japan: Japan Times
The data for this report is based on Ember’s yearly and monthly electricity dataset. You can find the full methodology for underlying emissions, generation and capacity data here. Yearly and monthly electricity data is available for download in Ember’s data catalogue. Gas costs based on the average EU benchmark TTF Day Ahead gas price for March to September 2022.
E3G is an independent climate change think tank with a global outlook. We work on the frontier of the climate landscape, tackling the barriers and advancing the solutions to a safe climate. Our goal is to translate climate politics, economics and policies into action.
Ember is an independent, not-for-profit climate and energy think tank that produces cutting-edge research and high-impact, politically viable policies that aim to accelerate the global transition from coal to clean electricity.
Ember is an energy think tank that aims to accelerate the clean energy transition with data and policy. Ember is the trading name of Sandbag Climate Campaign CIC, a Community Interest Company registered in England & Wales #06714443. 'Ember' and 'Sandbag' are trademarks held at the United Kingdom and European Union Intellectual Property Offices. All content is released under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence (CC-BY-4.0). Website powered by 100% renewable electricity.
