Renewable Energy Breaks Records in EU Electricity Generation – Greece Among Top Performers

A series of new records were set in 2025 for electricity generation from renewable energy sources (RES) across the European Union, with Greece playing a significant role and ranking among the EU’s top-performing countries. According to Ember’s European Electricity Review 2026, wind and solar power generation in the EU surpassed fossil fuel generation (coal and natural gas) for the first time in 2025—even amid rising natural gas use. Greece recorded a historic low in coal-based electricity generation and ranked third in the EU for photovoltaic (PV) share in total electricity output. Specifically: Wind (16.9%) and solar (13.2%) combined accounted for 30% of EU electricity generation in 2025—edging out fossil fuels at 29%. RES overall—including wind, solar, and hydropower—covered 48% of EU electricity demand. Solar generation hit a record 369 terawatt-hours, rising over 20% for the fourth consecutive year and supplying 13% of the EU’s electricity. Solar power expanded across all EU member states, exceeding 20% of annual electricity generation in Hungary, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, and the Netherlands. Greece ranked third—behind Hungary and Cyprus but ahead of Spain and the Netherlands—in PV contribution. Meanwhile, coal-fired generation fell to a historic low of 9.2% across the EU and just 5% in Greece—down from roughly 25% a decade ago. Nineteen EU countries now use coal for less than 5% of their electricity, or not at all; Ireland phased out coal in June 2025, and Finland effectively ended coal use in April—five years ahead of its 2029 target. Natural gas generation rose 8% year-on-year, mainly due to reduced hydropower output, pushing EU gas import costs for power generation to €32 billion—16% higher than in 2024. Sharp spikes in peak-hour gas prices contributed to a rise in wholesale electricity prices across 21 EU countries.