Highlights: Record drop in coal, gas and CO2 emissions in the European Union in 2023. For the first time, the share of wind power exceeds 40% in the EU energy mix. And record also for fossil production, but in the opposite direction, with the lowest figures ever recorded. Result: greenhouse gas emissions from the sector fell by 19%. Horns Rev 2 offshore wind farm in Denmark REUTERS By: RFI Follow Advertisement Read more “ A monumental shift ” in EU energy sector is underway, according to the Ember Group.

The European Union has accelerated the abandonment of fossil fuels in 2023. For the first time, the share of wind power exceeds 40% in the European energy mix. Renewable energies that represent…

Record drop in coal, gas and CO2 emissions in the European Union in 2023

The European Union has accelerated the abandonment of fossil fuels in 2023. For the first time, the share of wind power exceeds 40% in the European energy mix. Renewable energies which therefore represent almost half of the production of 27.44% exactly. And record also for fossil production, but in the opposite direction, with the lowest figures ever recorded. Result: greenhouse gas emissions from the sector fell by 19%.

Horns Rev 2 offshore wind farm in Denmark REUTERS

By: RFI Follow

“

A monumental shift

” in the EU energy sector is underway, according to

the Ember Group

. For the first time, wind power overtakes gas in the European energy mix. There is therefore now more energy produced thanks to wind turbines than thanks to gas. And that's good news.

Renewables rose to a RECORD 44% of EU electricity generation in 2023, with wind surpassing gas for the first time 🌪️

Read the full #EER24 👇https://t.co/I9NalbIIaM pic.twitter.com/9vxBC0LIfH

— Ember (@EmberClimate) February 7, 2024

More renewable energies, less fossil fuels

Especially since coal production is plummeting. The use of this fuel, the main cause of greenhouse gas emissions, to produce electricity, fell by almost 30% in 2023. A very clear decline, even in a context of

energy crisis including war in Ukraine

. For the president of the Ember think tank, Sarah Brun, “

this has not led to a resurgence of coal, far from it

”.

And on the contrary, the European Union is on “

the right path to gradually eliminate it

”, she specifies. In accordance with the recommendations of IPCC experts, effort is therefore being placed on wind or solar energy in the fight against global warming.

But be careful, the Ember group reminds us that now is not the time for complacency, we are on the right track, but the European Union must quickly deploy its renewable energies, to quickly create an energy system without fossil fuels. Without gas and without coal.

Also read: “For renewable energies to replace fossils, we must stop investing in fossils”

Record drop in coal, gas and CO2 emissions in the European Union in 2023

Record drop in coal, gas and CO2 emissions in the European Union in 2023

More renewable energies, less fossil fuels

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