Solar Power Surpasses Hard Coal In EU Energy Mix For The First Time In 2022

In a significant milestone for renewable energy, solar power overtook hard coal in electricity generation across the European Union for the first time in 2022. Solar energy accounted for 210,249 GWh of electricity production, surpassing the 205,693 GWh generated by hard coal. This shift marks a pivotal moment in the EU’s transition towards cleaner energy sources.

While hard coal’s contribution has decreased, brown coal, a lower energy form of coal, still generated 241,572 GWh of electricity in 2022, used by nine EU countries. Notably, Poland and Czechia remain the only EU members still producing hard coal, with Poland being the last country to use it as a significant source for electricity generation.

Despite a decline in its use, hard coal’s import dependency in the EU reached a record 74.4% in 2022, driven by countries building coal reserves amid geopolitical uncertainties, including the war in Ukraine. Russia, despite sanctions, remained the EU’s largest hard coal supplier until the ban on imports took full effect in August 2022, leading to a 45% drop in imports from Russia.

Preliminary data from 2023 indicates that EU coal production and consumption have plummeted to their lowest levels ever, with production down to 274 million tonnes—a 22% decrease from the previous year. Coal consumption also fell by 23%, to 351 million tonnes, marking one of the most significant declines in EU history. Germany and Poland were the top consumers, together accounting for nearly two-thirds of the EU’s total coal consumption.

This shift underscores the EU’s commitment to reducing reliance on fossil fuels and bolstering renewable energy sources, positioning solar energy as a critical player in the region’s energy landscape.