Home / Environment / EU Renewable Energy Dips Amid Gas Reliance
EU Renewable Energy Dips Amid Gas Reliance
24 Sep
Summary
- Renewable electricity generation saw a slight decrease in Q2 2026.
- Gas-fired generation increased by 3.9% while renewable generation grew by 2.8%.
- Solar power, despite significant growth, could not fully curb gas generation.
In the second quarter of 2026, electricity generation from renewable sources in the European Union saw a minor decline, constituting 54.1% of the total, down from 54.3% in the same period last year. While overall EU electricity generation rose by 3.2%, gas-fired power production increased by 3.9%, outpacing the 2.8% growth in renewable generation.
Solar power demonstrated substantial growth, making up 41.6% of renewable electricity, a notable increase from 37% the previous year. However, this surge did not fully compensate for reduced hydropower output, particularly in regions like Austria and Switzerland where low rainfall significantly impacted reservoir levels. Consequently, gas generation saw a marginal increase of 0.1% during the quarter.
Latvia led the EU with an impressive 97.7% renewable electricity share, followed by Denmark and Croatia. Conversely, Slovakia, Czechia, and Malta reported the lowest renewable shares. Experts emphasize the need for a diversified energy mix, including solar, wind, and hydro, alongside enhanced storage and flexibility to reduce reliance on gas.
