In this blog, you find out that the UK is a trendsetter.
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We have been locked in for a while. The UK closed down their last coal plant ages ago. In a landmark achievement for renewable energy, solar power has surpassed coal in the European Union’s electricity generation mix for the first time. This milestone underscores the rapid growth of solar energy and the declining role of fossil fuels in Europe’s power sector.
What changed?
The shift towards solar energy has been driven by several factors, including falling costs of solar technology, supportive government policies, and increasing public awareness of climate change. EU member states have invested heavily in solar infrastructure, with many countries offering incentives for both large-scale solar farms and residential installations.
This transition has significant implications for the EU’s energy landscape and its climate goals. Solar power’s overtaking of coal represents a major step towards decarbonising the electricity sector, which is crucial for meeting the EU’s ambitious target of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050.
However, challenges remain in fully integrating solar power into the grid. Issues such as energy storage and grid stability during periods of low sunlight need to be addressed to ensure a reliable power supply. Despite these challenges, the milestone achieved by solar power signals a bright future for renewable energy in Europe.
As the EU continues to prioritise clean energy sources, it is likely that solar power will play an increasingly important role in the region’s energy mix, contributing to energy security and environmental sustainability which is what we all want at the end of the day! yay!
References:
Energy Live News (2025) ‘Solar passes coal in EU milestone’, Energy Live News, 27 January. Available at: https://www.energylivenews.com/2025/01/27/solar-passes-coal-in-eu-milestone/ (Accessed: 27 January 2025).
European Commission (2024) ‘Renewable Energy Progress Report’, Brussels: European Commission. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/default/files/renewable_energy_progress_report_2024.pdf (Accessed: 27 January 2025).
Google. (2025). Gemini (Imagen 3) [AI image generator]. https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/imagen
International Energy Agency (2025) ‘Solar PV Market Update 2025’, IEA, Paris. Available at: https://www.iea.org/reports/solar-pv-market-update-2025 (Accessed: 27 January 2025).
SolarPower Europe (2025) ‘EU Solar Market Outlook 2025-2030’, Brussels: SolarPower Europe. Available at: https://www.solarpowereurope.org/insights/market-outlooks/eu-solar-market-outlook-2025-2030 (Accessed: 27 January 2025).
Eurostat (2025) ‘Energy Statistics – Electricity Production by Source’, Luxembourg: Eurostat. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Energy_statistics_-_electricity_production_by_source (Accessed: 27 January 2025).