EU Renewable Energy Hits 47.5% of All Electricity in 2024

Europe just reached a milestone that seemed impossible 20 years ago: renewable energy now powers almost half of all electricity used across the EU.

The numbers tell an extraordinary story of transformation. Renewable sources supplied 47.5% of the EU's total electricity consumption in 2024, up from just 15.9% in 2004. That's nearly a tripling of clean energy in two decades.

Wind and hydropower remain the workhorses of Europe's green transition, together providing almost two-thirds of all renewable electricity. Wind alone accounts for 38% of renewable generation, while hydropower contributes 26.4%.

But solar power is the real success story. In 2008, solar provided just 7.4 terawatt hours of electricity. By 2024, that number skyrocketed to 304 terawatt hours, making it the fastest-growing renewable source on the continent.

Some countries are already living in a renewable energy future. Austria leads the pack with 90.1% of its electricity coming from clean sources, followed closely by Sweden at 88.1% and Denmark at 79.7%.

Eleven EU nations now get more than half their electricity from renewables. Germany, Europe's largest economy, crossed the 50% threshold in 2024 with 54.1% renewable electricity. Spain, Portugal, Greece, and the Netherlands also joined the majority-renewable club.

The Ripple Effect spreads far beyond electricity bills. Every percentage point gained means cleaner air for millions of European families, fewer greenhouse gases warming the planet, and thousands of jobs created in growing clean energy industries. Countries that once depended heavily on imported fossil fuels now generate power from their own wind, water, and sunshine.

The transition hasn't happened everywhere at the same pace. Malta, Czechia, and Luxembourg still generate less than a quarter of their electricity from renewables, showing there's still work ahead for some nations.

But the overall trend is unmistakable. Europe has proven that developed economies can shift to clean energy while maintaining reliable electricity for homes and businesses. Solar panels that once seemed too expensive are now the fastest-growing power source, and countries that embraced wind and hydro decades ago are reaping the benefits today.

This progress wasn't inevitable; it happened because governments, businesses, and communities made choices to invest in a cleaner future, and those investments are now paying off in ways that benefit everyone who breathes the air and depends on a stable climate.