Wind and solar outperform fossil fuels in supplying electricity to Europe – Arabian Press

Wind turbines and solar panels provided around 30% of the electricity generated in EU countries in the first half of 2024, making their role in the sector surpass that of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas), according to a report released by a European research institute specialising in environmental issues and published by the British newspaper The Guardian.

A report by the Ampire Foundation, which specializes in improving environmental and climate research, pointed out that Europe’s electricity generation in the first half of this year decreased by 17% due to the use of fossil fuels. Ampire Europe also pointed out that the role of fossil fuels in European power generation fell by 30% in the first half of 2024, which in turn led to wind and solar power outperforming fossil fuels in European power generation.
European power plants will burn 24% less coal in the first half of 2024 than in the first half of 2023, and 13% less natural gas, the report said. The difference in fuel burning follows a recent increase in electricity demand, which fell two years ago as demand shrank due to the coronavirus pandemic, the report added.
Europe is one of the most polluted regions in the world due to the widespread burning of coal after the Industrial Revolution. It is now trying to cover this up by setting ambitious climate change goals and agendas. Recently, after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and the boycott of Russian oil, Europe has accelerated its focus on sustainable alternative energy, increasing investment in sustainable energy on the one hand and reducing oil imports on the other, not to mention stopping the extraction of coal from coal mines in some countries.
Therefore, Europe has recently tried to focus its investment on solar and wind power. In fact, it has achieved some success in increasing solar energy consumption, but in the wind energy industry, especially offshore wind power, it has encountered opposition from politics and public opinion due to its high prices. The past few years have been accompanied by a wave of inflation.
According to the lobby group Wind Europe, information shows that Europe will add 16.2 GW of new wind power capacity in 2023, but this new wind power only accounts for about half of the target that the European wind power industry should have achieved in 2023 to promote zero-emission policies.
The Ampere Foundation report found that only 13 European countries had achieved their 2023 targets for wind power, including: Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Hungary.

Walid Kaduri
Economic expert from Iraq
London-based Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper