According to the analysis of the London-based energy think tank Ember, the share of fossil fuels in electricity generation decreased in the EU during the winter period between October 2022 and March 2023, despite the energy crisis.
In this period, which is called the “crisis winter” in EU countries, the decrease in electricity demand by 7 percent has also ensured that electricity generation from fossil fuels decreased by 12 percent compared to the previous winter.
Electricity generation from coal decreased by 11 percent and electricity generation from gas decreased by 13 percent in this period.
Electricity generation from coal decreased in 15 of the 18 countries in the EU that use coal power plants. The decline in Poland and Germany accounted for 70 percent of the total reduction in electricity generation from coal.
In the same period, electricity generation from renewable energy sources grew by 4 percent.
Thus, the share of renewable energy sources in the EU’s total electricity generation reached 40 percent in the winter, surpassing fossil fuels for the first time. The share of fossil fuels was 37 percent.
In the winter period, electricity demand in almost all EU countries decreased by 6.2 percent compared to the average of the last 5 years, resulting in electricity savings of 12 billion Euros.
Ember Analyst Chris Rosslowe, in his evaluation of the analysis, stated that Europe is facing a crisis winter with rising energy costs and supply concerns triggered by Russia’s war in Ukraine, “The EU has survived these difficult months, but in the coming years it will face immediate demand declines and mild weather conditions. “The EU needs to wean away from fossil fuels as quickly as possible to keep energy supply stable.” used the phrases.