While both wind and solar delivered Europe through the energy crunch by generating more than a fifth of EU electricity in 2022, it was solar power that made the biggest impact, setting electricity generation records and saving billions in imported gas costs.
This was one of the key findings in the European Electricity Review released by the independent energy think tank Ember.
According to the report, wind and solar generated a record fifth of EU electricity in 2022, for the first time overtaking fossil gas (20%), and remaining above coal power (16%).
However, the shift away from fossil fuels was put on hold by unexpected French nuclear outages as German nuclear units were closing, as well as a 1-in-500-year drought across Europe, leading to the lowest level of hydro generation since at least 2000.
Ember data noted that this created a large 185TWh gap in generation, equal to 7% of Europe’s total electricity demand in 2022. Five-sixths of the gap was met by more wind and solar generation and a fall in electricity demand. But the remaining sixth was met by increased fossil generation.
In context, the rise in fossil fuel was not substantial: coal power increased by just 1.5 percentage points to generate 16% of EU electricity in 2022, remaining below 2018 levels.
The report predicts a positive outlook for 2023, with a rebound in hydro, the return of French nuclear units, continued acceleration of wind and solar and a further
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