A sharp decline in electricity output from wind and hydropower plants prompted the European Union to increase its reliance on gas and coal generation in the first half of 2025. This shift led to the largest annual rise in fossil-fuel electricity production since 2017 and caused a 9 percent increase in carbon dioxide emissions compared to the previous year. Although solar power saw record growth, it was not enough to offset the shortfall from other renewable sources.
Throughout the January to June 2025 period, utilities across the EU ramped up output at gas- and coal-fired power plants, reversing the trend of reduced fossil-fuel use seen over the past two years. This resurgence in carbon-intensive generation was a direct response to the significant decline in wind and hydropower availability, highlighting the vulnerability of renewable energy systems to weather fluctuations. The situation suggests that fossil fuels may continue to play a prominent role in electricity generation for years to come.
According to data from the Ember think tank, electricity generation from fossil fuels in the EU rose by 13 percent in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, marking the steepest increase since 2017. Gas-fired power rose by 19 percent, reaching its highest level in three years, while coal-fired output increased by 2 percent, the most in two years.
As a result, carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity sector climbed to 297 million tons, a 9 percent rise from the previous year. If this trend continues, total emissions from the sector could approach 600 million tons by the end of the year.
Wind power, which contributed nearly 20 percent of the EU’s electricity supply in the first half of 2024, declined by 9 percent, falling to 225 terawatt-hours. Hydropower was hit even harder, dropping 15 percent due to low snowfall and below-average rainfall last winter. Hydropower production totaled 164 terawatt-hours in the first half of 2025, down 28 terawatt-hours from the same period in 2024 and marking its lowest level in two years.
Solar power helped to ease some of the pressure by growing 21 percent, producing an additional 32 terawatt-hours. Total solar output reached a record 179 terawatt-hours in the first half of 2025, surpassing hydropower production for the first time during a six-month period.
