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The greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity of power generation in the European Union has continued to fall, confirming the trend of recent decades. Generating one kilowatt hour is estimated to have emitted 9% lower emissions in 2024 on average than in 2023, and 40% less than a decade ago. Climate and energy policies have effectively lowered carbon-intensive electricity supply over time, resulting in less coal use, more renewables and a more efficient EU generation mix. 

Figure 1. Greenhouse gas emission intensity of electricity generation, EU level

The EU electricity sector is expected to provide one of the most significant contributions to climate change mitigation by 2030 and be a cornerstone for the Union to reach net climate neutrality by 2050. For that to occur, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity of the sector should keep falling through the end of this decade.

In 2024, the EU’s electricity sector was estimated to be 62% less GHG intensive than it was in 1990 and 9% less than in 2023. Hydropower exceeded average generation levels, solar and wind power continued their growth, nuclear generation increased from the low levels of the previous two years and coal generation continued its long-term decline. These trends led to a limited increase in electricity generation in 2024 (2% greater compared with 2023).

Until 2010, the need to comply with industrial emissions legislation, such as the Large Combustion Plants Directive and the shift from fossil fuels to renewable electricity sources drove down the carbon intensity of EU electricity supply. As of 2010, the decrease has been almost exclusively due to the transition from fossil fuels to renewable electricity sources, with prices for emission allowances under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme increasing, especially since 2019.

To reduce the EU’s net GHG emissions by 55% by 2030 (compared with 1990) and reach net carbon neutrality by 2050, electricity generation across the EU needs to decarbonise faster. Figure 1 visualises indicative intensity levels that would be consistent with the EU’s climate targets.

Today’s geopolitical context marked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine further calls for a rapid decarbonisation to replace gas, coal and oil use in power supply, heating and transport. This would also contribute to improved energy security and reduced electricity prices in the longer term. Additional policies and measures are needed to deploy renewable generation sources faster, provide incentives to users to save energy and participate actively in the electricity market, and ensure an optimised build out of electricity infrastructures across the European Union.

Figure 2. Greenhouse gas emission intensity of electricity generation, country level

The GHG intensity of electricity production differs significantly between Member States (Figure 2). Estonia, Poland, Cyprus and Bulgaria are estimated to have had the highest electricity carbon intensity in 2024. This is due to the use of solid fossil fuels, relatively few renewables and limited or no nuclear sources in their national electricity mixes.

In eight additional Member States, the carbon intensity was higher than the EU average. At the same time, the GHG intensities for electricity production were lowest in Sweden, Finland and Luxembourg because of their high share of low-carbon electricity sources (renewables and nuclear power).

For national achievements, estimates show the highest rates of decarbonisation in electricity production over the 1990-2024 period in Luxembourg (91% reduction), Denmark (88%), Portugal (85%), Slovakia (84) and Finland (81%). In non-EU EEA countries, all electricity produced in Iceland and most produced in Norway comes from renewable sources, and their GHG emission intensities are accordingly very low. Türkiye has a relatively high GHG emission intensity of electricity generation.