Numbers Don’t Lie: Renewable Energy Beats Fossil Fuel

The month of May was a record-breaking one in terms of wind and solar production across Europe with clean energy sources outpacing fossil fuels, coal, and gas.

“Europe’s electricity transition has hit hyperdrive,” says Ember’s Europe lead Sarah Brown. “The European Union is on track for a huge collapse in fossil power this year, as wind and solar emerge as the backbone of the future electricity system.”

A third of May 2023’s electricity was generated by solar and wind power – 31% with 59 Terrawatt-hour (TWh) – and fossil fuels produced an all-time low, generating 53 TWh, or 27%. Solar growth, strong wind performance, and low electricity demand all contributed to this new milestone in green electricity production. Coal generation – the most polluting source – only reached 10% with 20 TWh, almost the same proportion as in April 2020 during the lockdown, proof that the fossil collapse in May 2023 is not an exception. “Solar and wind are helping to cut fossil fuel use.”