In the European Union, the transition is even more advanced, with over 71% of electricity coming from low-carbon sources. These insights are drawn from Ember's Global Electricity Review 2024.
In total, renewable sources produced 858 TWh of new electricity last year—equivalent to nearly one-quarter of the United States' annual consumption. Solar energy alone accounted for 474 TWh, making up more than half of that new generation. Analysts project that the growth of renewables will soon surpass the increase in electricity demand globally.
The EU remains at the forefront of the global energy transition, with fossil fuel-based electricity generation down 50% since 2007. Wind and nuclear are now the region's dominant sources of electricity. Member states lead global rankings in both wind and solar share: Hungary tops solar generation with 25%, while Denmark leads in wind at 58%. Countries like Ireland, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, and Spain are also among the top performers in wind energy.
