Solar overtakes coal in EU for first time in 2024

In demand: Workers instal solar panels at the Hanau Energies SAS solar project in Weinbourg, France. Solar generation in the EU jumped about 22% last year to around 304 terawatt hours. — Bloomberg

LONDON: A surge of solar power output has helped the green energy source overtake coal-fired stations in the European Union (EU) for the first time last year, a report shows.

The milestone, based on data from climate think tank Ember, is the latest sign of coal’s decline in the EU as the bloc seeks to shift away from the highly polluting fossil fuel.