Fossil fuels are losing ground to renewable energy in Europe

The silhouette of four wind turbines and transmission lines against a sunset. — *Wind turbines and power lines can be seen against the evening sky near Leuna, Germany on October 4th, 2022.* | Photo by Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images

The European Union saw a record drop in pollution from fossil fuel power plants last year, according to a new report. Ember, an energy think tank that crunched the numbers, calls it “an unprecedented collapse in coal and gas electricity generation.” Renewable energy is finally starting to take over the power grid.

Fossil fuels dropped to their lowest point since reliable record-keeping started in 1990, making up less than a third of EU’s electricity generation in 2023. Carbon-pollution-free power generation — which includes renewables and nuclear energy — made up more than two-thirds of the electricity mix, and twice as much as fossil fuels.