For the second consecutive year renewables produced more power than fossil fuels in the first and second quarters of 2019, according to analyst outfit EnAppSys.
The new report on the European power market calculated that renewables capacity generated 245.8 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity in the three months to 30 June, 21.3% more than the combined 202.7TWh produced from gas, coal lignite, oil and peat during the same period.
This repeats the pattern seen in 2018, which saw renewables produce 288.4TWh and 252.8TWh in the first and second quarters respectively, while fossil fuels generated 258.9TWh in Q1 and 224.8TWh in Q2 last year.
The analyst said this was part of a trend which has brought “increased levels of stability” to the European power market.
EnAppSys director Jean-Paul Harreman said: “The state of the power fuel mix across Europe has largely stabilised, with levels of renewables no longer seeing large increases and the balance between coal and gas largely staying static.
“This means that the share of generation from fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear have largely remained static since 2017, with renewables providing more than fossil fuels in the first half of the year and this trend reversing in the second half of the year.”
Nuclear dominated Europe’s power mix during Q2 2019, generating 28.2% of total electricity.
Hydropower produced 17.5%, gas 17.0%, coal/ lignite plants 14.7%, wind 11.5%, solar 6.5% and biomass projects 3.4%. The remainder was made up of oil 0.6%, waste 0.5% and peat 0.1%.
Harreman added: “Though many countries are claiming they are moving towards a renewable future, a large share of European electricity continues to be generated from dirty fuel sources.
“Coal and lignite plants continued to produce a high share of total generation in the second quarter, which is only 22% down on Q2 2016 levels.
Hydro assets provided the main source of renewable electricity generation during the quarter, producing 109.2TWh, while wind farms generated 71.6TWh, up 25% on Q2 2018 levels.