Solar Was the Leading Source of Electricity In the EU Last Month (www.cbc.ca)
- Reference: 0178357954
- News link: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/25/07/12/0045216/solar-was-the-leading-source-of-electricity-in-the-eu-last-month
- Source link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/solar-was-the-leading-source-of-electricity-in-the-eu-last-month-says-report-1.7583280
> Solar generated 22.1 percent of the EU's electricity last month, up from 18.9 percent a year earlier, as record sunshine and continued solar installations pushed output to 45.4 terawatt hours. Nuclear followed closely at 21.8 percent and wind contributed 15.8 percent of the mix. At least 13 EU countries, including Germany, Spain and the Netherlands, recorded highest-ever monthly solar generation, [data from energy think tank Ember [2]showed on Thursday.]
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> Coal's share of the EU electricity mix fell to a record low of 6.1 percent in June, compared to 8.8 percent last year, with 28 percent less electricity generated than a year earlier. Germany and Poland, which together generated nearly 80 percent of the 27-country bloc's coal-fired electricity in June, also saw record monthly lows. Coal accounted for 12.4 per cent of Germany's electricity mix and 42.9 percent of Poland's. Spain, nearing a full phase-out of coal, generated just 0.6 per cent of its electricity from coal in the same period.
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> Wind power also set new records in May and June, rebounding after poor wind conditions resulted in a weak start to the year. But despite record solar and wind output in June, fossil fuel usage in the first half of 2025 grew 13 percent from last year, driven by a 19 percent increase in gas generation to offset weak hydro and wind output earlier in the year. Electricity demand in the EU rose 2.2 percent in the first half of the year, with five of the first six months showing year-on-year increases. The next challenge for Europe's power system is to expand battery storage and grid flexibility to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels during non-solar hours, Ember said in the report.
[1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/solar-was-the-leading-source-of-electricity-in-the-eu-last-month-says-report-1.7583280
[2] https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/solar-is-eus-biggest-power-source-for-the-first-time-ever/
Battery Penetration (Score:2)
In Sweden I am surprised there isn't more battery storage at a neighborhood substation level. The way they do their underground distribution (I think much of northern Europe is the same), they have small enclosures every 1km or so with switchgear and a 380V transformer; these types of locations are almost ideal for smaller battery systems, especially given how over-paneled most homes with solar are. I wish it was that easy for utilities to add distribution-level batteries in the US as it would really open
Re: (Score:2)
Because Sweden does not need them (yet). Thanks to its geography, Sweden has many pumped-storage hydroelectricity plants.
Re: (Score:3)
The benefit is more for distribution issues than diurnal loading-- it helps reduce loads on the11kV side.
And the price? (Score:2)
Okay, what's the cost per kWh on average for residential and/or commercial power in the EU vs 5-10 years ago?
What will the numbers be in December? (Score:2)
Getting high solar output during summer is nice, but they're getting 15-20 hours of daily sunlight in the higher latitudes.
It'll be interesting to see the solar number in mid-Winter, when the days are 6 hours long and the sun is low on the horizon. I suspect coal use will ramp up to keep the lights on and the heat pumps running.
Re: (Score:2)
Northern Europe has a lot of wind turbines, and the winds are stronger in winter.
Cash (Score:2)
I'm all for saving the environment but just don't ask me to get a personal loan for the sake of doing it. Let the people who can pay in cash go first.
Re: (Score:2)
> just don't ask me to get a personal loan
If the interest on the loan is less than the savings on your electric bill, you come out ahead even with borrowed money.
Some solar companies provide financing and guarantee a positive return.
Re: Cash (Score:2)
But I have to make an appointment with the bank. Then go to the bank and have them try to sell all other products to me. Then I have to open a loan and maybe top out my credit limit and not be able to get a loan for fixing my car if it is needed. Seriously, clearly all other Slashdotters already have a much higher credit limit than I do
Everybody in Holland still gets scammed (Score:2)
by the utility companies and has to pay for feeding back solar into the grid. =/
Re: Everybody in Holland still gets scammed (Score:2)
That's a gamble. I lose if the weather doesn't cooperate.
In other news: Flashlights not needed during dayli (Score:1)
This report is probably the most challenging to science, as the level of cognitive strength needed to produce it, must have been in the negative.
In the mean time... (Score:1)
We're racing in the opposite direction thanks to our president. After all we have to remain #1 at something, why not in the race to burn everything we can get our hands on.
Re: (Score:2)
> We're racing in the opposite direction thanks to our president.
America is behind mainly because of Biden's tariffs on imported PV panels, in a failed attempt to build a domestic solar industry.
Trump is hostile to anything green, but he's mostly just blathering with little real-world effect.
Re: In the mean time... (Score:2)
Trump started the solar tariffs in 2018.
Biden merely extended them.
Both were misguided.
Corruption from fossil fuel industry interests is unfortunately bipartisan.
The tariffs were never going to spur solar manufacturing in the US, only increase prices.
Re: (Score:2)
But they can still be useful when you are looking under the bed or in the back of a closet,