European Energy Milestone: Wind power generation surpasses fossil fuels for the first time, accounting for one-third of total electricity.

According to the think tank Ember, last year wind and solar energy production in the EU exceeded fossil fuels for the first time, becoming the main source of electricity in the EU. A report released by Ember on Thursday shows that one-third of the region's electricity comes from wind and solar energy, while fossil fuels (including coal and natural gas) only account for 29%. Nuclear energy accounts for 20% of the region's electricity supply. Beatrice Petrovich, senior energy and climate analyst at Ember who wrote the report, stated: "This milestone moment demonstrates that the EU is rapidly transitioning towards a power system supported by wind and solar energy. With increasing global instability due to reliance on fossil fuels, the importance of transitioning to clean energy is clearer than ever." The EU aims to have renewable energy account for 42.5% of its electricity grid by the end of this decade. This target includes imported electricity and is part of the EU's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030. Solar energy production has grown by over 20% for the fourth consecutive year. By 2025, renewable energy production will account for 48% of the EU's total electricity production. According to Ember's data, natural gas production increased by 8% compared to the previous year, mainly due to a decrease in hydropower production; however, the proportion of this fossil fuel as an energy source decreased by 18% compared to its peak in 2019. Petrovich noted: "The EU's next priority should be to significantly reduce its dependence on expensive imported natural gas. Natural gas not only makes the EU more susceptible to energy blackmail, but also drives up prices."