In 2022, renewables generated more electricity than gas for the first time in Europe.
Wind and solar generated 22.3 per cent of the electricity produced in the EU, compared to 20 per cent for natural gas. This was revealed in the report ‘State of Climate in Europe 2022’, jointly prepared by the World Meteorological Organisation (Wmo) and the EU’s earth observation service, Copernicus.
The report has a focus on energy this year. In 2022, annual solar radiation was the highest since measurements began in 1983, 4.9 per cent higher than the 1991-2020 average. While hot weather and drought have favoured solar, they have reduced the output of hydro (less water in reservoirs) and nuclear (less water to cool reactors).