According to the latest data published by the think tank Ember, a record 70% of power generation in the EU and 60% in Europe, was obtained from clean sources in the first two months of this year.

Total power generation in the EU reached 465.87 TWh in January and February, up 1,6% from the same period in 2023. From that total, clean sources (wind, solar, hydro, nuclear and bio) produced 326,27 TWh compared to just 292,13 TWh the year before. This is an impressive 12% increase which was “driven by strong year-on-year growth in hydro, solar and wind generation and a rebound in nuclear power production”, as stated by Reuters.

Source: Ember, graphic by EMBA Power 

Nuclear plants remained by far the largest source of power in the EU with a share of 24,7%, producing 115,09 TWh (172.5 TWh in Europe). Nuclear generation increased in the opening two months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 by almost 6%.   

Gas-fired units were the second largest source with an output of 75,96 TWh, dropping around 7% compared to 2023, despite significantly lower gas prices. Meanwhile, hydro generation increased by a massive 20,3% reaching an output of 62,65 TWh and a share of 13% in the EU’s power mix  “thanks to a strong output from France and Poland.”

Increasing clean sources has resulted in lower power sector emissions. Over the first two months of 2024, emissions reached just 218,24 mtCO2, according to Ember. Compared to 261,94 mtCO2 in the same period in 2023, the decline was around 17.5%.