Renewables surge in European power mix
Wind and solar energy generation have increased even though total energy demand has fallen during the pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic and the resulting lockdowns across Europe have resulted in an acceleration of renewable energy’s growth in many countries, even as power consumption has fallen by more than 6pc. Data for the period from 1 January to 16 June 2020 from the grid operator association the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) and compiled by data platform Wartsila Energy Transition Lab shows that wind, solar and biomass generation across the continent has grown by an average of 7pc over 2019 levels. While overall power generation year-to-date has declined by an average of 6.1pc from 2019, the data show this shrinkage has been almost entirely absorbed
Also in this section
12 March 2026
Role of world’s largest carbon cap-and-trade market under scrutiny as war in Iran threatens to drive EU energy costs to unsustainable levels
10 March 2026
Europe urgently needs to bring more projects to FID, as CCS investors warn they might divert capital to faster-growing regions
9 January 2026
A shift in perspective is needed on the carbon challenge, the success of which will determine the speed and extent of emissions cuts and how industries adapt to the new environment
2 January 2026
This year may be a defining one for carbon capture, utilisation and storage in the US, despite the institutional uncertainty
