Solar and wind now generate more electricity than fossil fuels: what does that mean?

Renewable energy overtook fossil fuels in the EU some time ago: last year, nearly half of all EU electricity (48%) came from renewable sources, compared to 29% from fossil fuels. What's new is that solar and wind (the two fastest-growing sources) have now also overtaken fossil fuels on their own: together, they generated more electricity than all fossil sources combined for the first time in 2025 (30% versus 29%). For businesses in Flanders and Wallonia, this acceleration has concrete implications for how they manage their energy costs.

This growth isn't new, but it has clearly picked up pace. Belgium felt this too: at peak moments, solar and wind covered almost the country's entire electricity consumption. Globally, the pace is just as fast: renewable sources also overtook coal worldwide for the first time last year (historically the largest fossil energy source in the world), although coal itself now plays only a marginal role in the Belgian and European energy mix.

What this has already delivered

This isn't just an abstract climate story. The growth of wind and solar energy saved the EU €59 billion in fossil fuel imports last year alone. Lower import dependency means less exposure to price shocks on the international energy market. This is exactly the kind of volatility businesses are feeling in their energy bills today.

Why this is more than a statistic

For businesses, this shift translates into two concrete effects.

Electricity prices are becoming more volatile, not more stable. The more solar and wind in the mix, the bigger the price differences between periods of high and low production. Businesses that generate and store their own electricity can respond to this; businesses that remain fully dependent on the grid feel these fluctuations directly in their bill.

Self-generation and storage are becoming more financially attractive. As renewable sources make up a growing share of the mix, flexibility becomes increasingly important. Battery storage allows you to use self-generated electricity when you actually need it, rather than feeding it back to the grid at declining feed-in rates.

What can your business do now?

• Solar panels on your business roofs or land, sized to match your consumption profile.
• Battery storage (BESS), so you can use your self-generated energy exactly when you need it.
• Charging infrastructure for your fleet, connected to your own generation.
• Energy management, to optimally balance consumption, generation, and storage.

Powerland supports businesses at every step of this journey: from the initial feasibility study to the full rollout of solar panels, battery storage, and tailored charging infrastructure.

Curious what the energy transition means for your energy costs? Contact Powerland for a no-obligation conversation.

 

 

Sources

[1] Ember Energy, European Electricity Review 2026 (annual report). https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/european-electricity-review-2026/

[2] Ember Energy, country page European Union (country data). https://ember-energy.org/countries-and-regions/european-union/

[3] Ember Energy, Global Electricity Review 2026 (annual report). https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2026/

[4] Ember Energy, country page World (country data). https://ember-energy.org/countries-and-regions/world/

[5] Elia, press release Electricity mix in 2025 (26 December 2025). https://www.elia.be/en/newsroom/2025/12/20251226_press-release-electricity-mix

[6] Carbon Brief, Clean energy pushes fossil-fuel power into reverse for 'first time ever' (2026). https://www.carbonbrief.org/clean-energy-pushes-fossil-fuel-power-into-reverse-for-first-time-ever

 

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