Electricity production from wind and solar sources has, for the first time, surpassed fossil fuels in 14 of the 27 European Union (EU) member states, with renewables accounting for nearly half of the energy mix, according to data included in the EMBER 2026 report.
The document, quoted by the InfoClima platform, shows that solar energy has grown rapidly, while coal has fallen to a historic low and natural gas remains on a downward trend. In this context, storage, batteries and grid modernisation are becoming essential.
At the European level, coal-based electricity production fell to 257 TWh in 2025, a new historic low below the 2024 level, compared with 705 TWh in 2015. Against this background, 19 member states had a coal share of under 5 percent in their energy mix, while Germany and Poland accounted for over 74 percent of the EU's coal-fired electricity production. The remaining states have accelerated the process of phasing out this energy source.
At the same time, batteries have become a real competitor to gas-fired production during peak hours. "Periods of high gas demand have driven electricity price increases. Hours with abundant wind and solar production have caused significant price drops. Currently, batteries create an economic opportunity. They store cheap energy produced during the day and deliver it during peak hours, when previously hydropower plants or gas-fired plants set the marginal price," Alexandru Ciocan, a specialist at the Energy Policy Group (EPG), commented on the report.
On the other hand, in 2025, the average cost of gas-fired electricity in the EU ranged between 101 and 112 euros per MWh.
"Hours with abundant wind and solar increasingly coincide with low prices. In 2025, 19 member states recorded at least one hour in which wind and solar energy exceeded 70 percent of hourly electricity generation. In 2020, only two states reached this level. In Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, wind and solar together supplied over 50 percent of electricity production in at least a third of the hours of the year. In most cases, the interconnected European energy system mitigates price volatility and grid stress. Cross-border transfers direct energy to where demand is highest. Better connectivity and new transmission lines, including in Eastern Europe (an insufficiently integrated region) and the Nordic region, can further reduce the magnitude of price shocks," Ciocan explained.
Regarding the storage of renewable energy in batteries for later use during periods of high demand, last year the capacity of large-scale batteries in the EU exceeded 10 GW, up from 4 GW in 2023, with nearly half of the installed capacity concentrated in Italy and Germany.
In Romania's case, EMBER report data show clear progress, but still insufficient relative to the country's potential. Solar energy is steadily increasing, both in production and in its share of the energy mix, however the main constraints remain the limited grid capacity, the slow pace of permitting and the lack of large-scale storage solutions.
"Romania is competitive due to high solar irradiation and the availability of land. Investors' interest remains high. A major challenge persists in the manner in which the state manages state aid schemes. Uncertainty and frequent changes can limit private investment interest. The next step is integration. Expanding solar energy must be matched with accelerated investment in grids, batteries and demand flexibility. Without these elements, cheap energy produced at midday will not reflect into lower evening prices, especially as the prosumer sector has grown rapidly at the national level, with over 1 GW installed in 2025 alone. The direction is correct. The stake is the speed of implementation. Solar energy can become a pillar of energy security and price stability if public policies shift the focus from installation to efficient system integration. Currently, solar energy represents more of a challenge for distribution networks and suppliers," the InfoClima article mentioned.
On the other hand, in the view of the EPG specialist, Romania is confronted with an increased interest in developing gas-fired power plants based on available domestic resources, at which point "a policy inconsistency arises."
Regarding coal, Romania has committed to a complete phase-out of coal-based electricity production by 2032.
"Delays in the development of gas-fired plants at the Oltenia Energy Complex, along with the slow pace of investment in renewable sources and an underdeveloped interconnection infrastructure, have led to requests to extend the operation of units scheduled for closure in 2025. The authorities justified this decision on grounds of energy security and system adequacy. The measure temporarily maintains coal production in the energy mix, but prolongs exposure to high costs, emissions certificate prices and risks of non-compliance with climate targets. In the medium term, coal plants remain economically unsustainable. Their operation will become increasingly difficult in a market dominated by renewable energy, flexibility and storage solutions (...)," the specialist believes.
The quoted report highlights that, in terms of installed battery capacity for wind and solar energy, Romania ranks third in the European Union.
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