Europe’s push for cleaner energy is a journey, not a sprint, and it’s happening at different speeds across the continent. A new map shows exactly how much electricity each European country gets from clean sources. It highlights a clear divide: countries in the west are moving fast, while those in the east are lagging.
Europe’s Energy Shift: Two Speeds
This summer brought good news for clean energy. Solar power hit new production records, and giant wind turbines are popping up everywhere. Even with some odd choices, like importing energy from Africa, Europe is clearly making strides in renewables.
However, not all countries are on the same page. Some still get very little electricity from clean sources. This uneven progress becomes clear when you look at the data. A map created by Visual Capitalist lays it all out.
Based on Eurostat figures up to December 2024, the shift to renewables is definitely gaining momentum. Many countries now get more than 99% of their net electricity from sources like wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biofuels. It’s a promising trend for the entire continent.
Where Europe Stands on Renewables
The European Union as a whole hit a major milestone in December 2024. Nearly 42% of its net electricity came from renewable sources. Wind and hydroelectric power were the main drivers behind this change.
It’s interesting to note that the countries leading this clean energy movement often rely heavily on hydroelectric power. Albania, for instance, is at the top of the list, producing over 99% of its electricity from renewables, mostly hydro. Norway also stands out for its strong use of hydropower. Denmark, in third place, leads thanks to its impressive wind power infrastructure. Portugal is right there with them, holding the fourth spot.
But the “two speeds” are very real. Countries like Czechia, Moldova, and Malta show the slower side of this transition. In parts of Central and Eastern Europe, fossil fuels are still a major player. These three nations have some of the lowest renewable energy shares. At the very bottom, we find Kosovo, with only 8.8% of its energy coming from clean sources.
Portugal’s Solar Push
Understanding which types of renewables are making the biggest difference across Europe is key. For example, Portugal has made a big bet on solar power. However, the mix of energy sources varies by country. Across Europe, solar energy currently ranks third overall.
According to Eurostat, wind power supplied 39.1% of Europe’s renewable energy in 2024. Hydroelectric followed with 29.9%, and solar power contributed 22.4%. Biofuels provided 8.1%, while geothermal energy made up a small 0.5%.
Looking at the bigger picture, more than 40% of the EU’s net energy production in 2024 came from renewables. To be precise, it was 47.3% of all electricity produced, totaling 1.31 million gigawatt-hours. This marks a solid 7.7% increase from 2023.
The same data shows that fossil fuel use dropped by 7.2% compared to the previous year. This is almost the same amount that renewables grew. Nuclear power also saw an increase of 4.8%, despite some countries’ plans to move away from it.
What will 2026 bring? A Eurobarometer survey from June 2025 found strong public backing for renewables across the EU. However, a big question remains. Can this growth in clean energy keep up with the massive power needs of new data centers? That’s a challenge we in the tech world will be watching closely.