The use of fossil fuels for electricity production in the EU decreased by 17% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, according to a study published by the Ember Energy Institute.
Five of the EU’s 27 member countries – Bulgaria, Portugal, Austria, Estonia and Finland -reported declines of more than 30%, according to the study.
In another 11 countries, electricity generation from fossil fuels went down by more than 20%.
The change is largely due to high coal and gas prices, lower demand and increased generation from renewable sources, the report said.
Energy produced by solar power plants increased by 13% in the EU in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, while energy produced by wind power grew by 4.8%.
However, the increase in renewable energy is not enough, said analyst Matt Ewen, noting the need for a faster replacement of fossil fuels with clean energy.
