For the first time, solar power contributed more to Europe’s electricity generation than lignite in 2024, marking a significant milestone in the continent's green transition. According to data analyzed by the Ember think tank, solar energy accounted for 11% of the EU’s electricity last year, while lignite plants contributed 10%.

Fossil fuels overall continued their decline for the fifth consecutive year, constituting just 16% of the EU’s energy mix in 2024.

“This is a milestone. Lignite, the oldest and dirtiest energy source, is being replaced by solar, the rising star of clean energy,” said Beatrice Petrovich, one of the report’s authors.

Lignite, a key driver of Europe’s industrialization, emits more pollutants than any other energy source. Its use in electricity generation peaked in 2007 and has since declined by 50%. Meanwhile, clean energy sources such as wind and solar have surged, accounting for 29% of the EU’s electricity in 2024. Hydropower and nuclear energy also showed signs of recovery after dips in 2022.

The rapid growth of solar power—the fastest-growing energy source last year—was attributed to record installations of new panels, even though Europe experienced less sunshine compared to 2023.

In 2024, lignite use declined in 16 out of the 17 European countries still utilizing it for electricity generation. The report noted that lignite has become supplementary or entirely absent in most national energy systems.

Germany and Poland, the largest lignite users in Europe, made significant strides toward cleaner energy sources. Germany’s lignite share in its electricity grid dropped by 17% year-on-year, while Poland recorded an 8% decrease.

Natural gas also saw a structural decline, with usage dropping in 14 of the 26 EU countries that rely on it for electricity generation.

Despite a slight increase in energy demand in 2024, following two years of reduced consumption due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe maintained its focus on renewables.

“Wind and solar power are growing in all major economies, but lignite continues to rise in China, and natural gas has increased in the U.S.,” noted Gregory Nemet, an energy researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Europe is leveraging the affordability, security, and clean air benefits offered by renewables,” he added.

According to Ember’s report, the EU is on track to meet its target of 400 GW of installed solar energy capacity by 2025 and is well-positioned to achieve the 750 GW target by the end of the decade.