Electricity: Alternative Renewable Sources Beat Fossil Fuels for First Time in History

For the first time in history, renewable energy sources outdid fossil fuels in providing electricity. According to the annual report of Ember and Agora Energiewende, Europeans got more of their electricity from alternative and more sustainable energy sources.

Ember and Agora Energiewende's report found that in 2020, renewable sources delivered 38% of electricity compared to the 37% produced by fossil fuels.

(Photo : Science in HD on Unsplash)

The shift in power production happened due to other sources, like wind and solar power, rise in quantity in the European Union (EU).

Both power sources nearly doubled since 2015, and as of last year accounted for one-fifth of electricity generation in EU countries, Energiewende found. It's also the reason why coal power declined 20% last year, making up only 13% of electricity generated in Europe.

"Rapid growth in wind and solar has forced coal into decline, but this is just the beginning," said Dave Jones, senior electricity analyst for Ember and lead author on the report, in a statement. "Europe is relying on wind and solar to ensure not only coal is phased out by 2030, but also to phase out gas generation, replace closing nuclear power plants, and to meet rising electricity demand from electric cars, heat pumps, and electrolyzers.​"

(Photo : Karsten Würth on Unsplash)

Due to last year's global lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a significantly lesser demand for electricity around the world. In Europe alone, the electric demand decreased by 4%.

Despite the international health issue, the growth of renewable energy sources was not affected. This means that many alternative sources are still being developed if not fully utilized throughout the lockdown period. Since 2015, Europe's electricity emissions recorded a historic decline, becoming 29% cleaner, the report noted.

The milestone follows commitments from EU leaders last month to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030. In the United States, renewable energy overtook coal consumption in recent years. Last May, renewable energy sources were consumed more than coal for the first time since 1885.

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"Post-pandemic economic recovery must not slow down climate action," said Patrick Graichen, director of Agora Energiewende, in a statement. "We, therefore, need strong climate policy -- such as in the Green Deal -- to ensure steady progress."

Ember and Agora Energiewende

Research and development companies like Ember and Agora Energiwende are two of the many independent climate and energy advocacy companies that work side-by-side with the EU to ensure more sustainable energy sources.

Ember is an independent climate and energy think tank focused on the acceleration of the global electric transition.

They gather, curate, and analyze data on the coal to clean energy transition, primarily focusing on the power sector. All the data they collected are used to support politically viable policies that pushed the coal phase-out acceleration, empowered green energy advocacies and campaigns, and shaped the global narrative on coal.

On the other hand, Agora Energiewende is also a think tank that supports the Energiewende initiative in Germany.

Energiewende or Energy Transition is Germany's ongoing transition to a low carbon, environmentally sound, reliable, and affordable energy supply.

Both companies have the same goal in mind, to promote the transition of alternative renewable energy sources in the entirety of Europe.

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