In a landmark achievement for the European Union, solar and wind energy have overtaken fossil fuels as the leading source of electricity generation in the first half of 2024.
The share of electricity generated from solar panels and wind turbines in the EU rose to 30%, while fossil fuel production dropped to 27%. Thirteen EU countries, including Germany, Belgium, Hungary, and the Netherlands, achieved this milestone for the first time.
Martien Visser, a lecturer in energy transition, highlights that while this is a significant milestone, it only applies to electricity, which accounts for 20% of total energy demand. He notes that although solar and wind power are increasing and electricity demand is decreasing, electricity prices have not significantly decreased.
Visser explains that the price of electricity is often determined by the most expensive generation methods, which are frequently gas-fired power plants. These are used when wind and solar energy are not available.
The main bottleneck in utilising solar and wind energy lies in storage. Currently, there is limited capacity to store electricity temporarily when production exceeds demand. Visser laments this as a waste of electricity and emphasizes the need for improved storage solutions to maximise the potential of renewable energy sources.
