MAs Donald Trump praises liquid gold (“Let’s drill, guys, let’s drill,” he said in his inauguration speech) and withdraws the United States from the Paris agreements, renewable sources are increasingly becoming a consolidated credible alternative. In China, where the installed capacity of renewable energy recorded unprecedented growth in 2024, exceeding the targets set for 2030 six years in advance. But also in Europe: the European Electricity Review published today by the Ember think tank notes that solar energy produced 11% of the European Union’s electricity in 2024. It thus surpassed coal-fired electricity production for the first timeat 10%. Electricity produced by burning gas in the EU fell for the fifth consecutive year and electricity generation from fossil fuels fell to an all-time low.
Solar beats coal in 2024. From China to Europe, to Italy, record production of photovoltaic energy for electricity
It’s not bad in Italy either, which remains by far the largest producer of electricity from gas in the EU (the importance of gas in its electricity generation mix is among the highest in the EU, at 44%). But Even in our country, solar photovoltaic production has reached an all-time high: by 14%, which is more than the EU average, as well as the highest growth rate in the last 10 years. Only 2% of Italian electricity was produced by burning coal. “Italy is moving closer to a clean energy future, powered by sun and wind, freeing itself from its dependence on fossil energy,” said Beatrice Petrovich, senior analyst at Ember. «Maintaining the growth of wind and solar will help protect Italian consumers from price shocks on the global gas market”.
Increasing energy production from renewables is crucial to reduce the European Union’s vulnerability to fossil fuel price spikes, but also to help mitigate the climate crisis and provide affordable energy to families and businesses.
The money and Co2 emissions we saved
Ember’s analysis shows that, without the new wind and solar generation capacity installed over the last 5 years, the EU would have imported 92 billion cubic meters more of fossil gas and 55 million tonnes more of coal. For an additional cost of 59 billion euros. In the case of Italy, without the new solar and wind plants installed between the end of 2019 and 2024, the country would have imported 4 billion cubic meters more of fossil gas and 5 million tonnes more of coal, at a cost additional of 3.3 billion euros.
But we didn’t just save money: emissions too of CO2 have never been so low as in 2024, considered a turning point for electricity production in Europe also from Eurelectricfederation of the European electricity industry. The data indicates that emissions from electricity generation decreased by 13 percent compared to 2023going from 542 to 471 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (MtCO2eq).
Nuclear, wind, photovoltaic and hydroelectric: how our electricity mix is made up
At the same time, fossil fuels have seen their share of the electricity mix fall to 28 percent. While renewable sources have reached 48 percent and nuclear 24 percent. Nuclear has registered the highest production with 656.4 terawatt hours (TWh). Followed by wind (496.5 TWh) and natural gas (401.3 TWh). Photovoltaic and hydroelectric, together, exceeded 40 TWh of growth compared to the previous year, setting new records. Coal continued its declinestanding at 265.2 TWh, highlighting a progressive abandonment of the most polluting sources.
Naturally, the challenge is not won. Indeed, we must accelerate. Particularly with wind power, which had to face some particular challenges in its implementation (relating to landscape impact and connection to the grid). Between now and 2030, the wind capacity to be installed each year will have to more than double compared to 2024 levels.
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