Key facts
- EU electricity from renewables reached 45.5% in Q1 2026, up from 42.7% in Q1 2025.
- Denmark leads with 90% renewable electricity, Portugal has 82.9%, and Lithuania 75.7%.
- Wind power was the largest source of renewable electricity (44.9%), followed by hydropower (28%).
- The EU saved €51.4 billion in 2025 by reducing fossil fuel imports.
- Consumers in five EU countries are expected to save €8.5 billion on energy bills this year.
The European Union has achieved a significant milestone, with renewable energy sources accounting for 45.5% of total electricity generation in the first quarter of 2026. This represents an increase from 42.7% in the same period of the previous year, according to new data from Eurostat. Wind power was the dominant renewable source, making up 44.9% of the total renewable electricity generated, followed by hydropower at 28% and solar at 17.3%.
Denmark leads the bloc with an impressive 90% of its electricity derived from renewables, primarily wind power. Portugal follows closely with 82.9%, largely due to its hydropower capacity, and Lithuania ranks third with 75.7%, also a significant wind energy contributor. Conversely, Czechia, Malta, and Slovakia lag behind, with renewable electricity shares of 12.7%, 13%, and 17.2%, respectively.
This transition towards green, homegrown power is being driven by a strategic imperative for national security, particularly after the energy crisis highlighted the volatility of fossil fuel imports. Beyond bolstering energy security, the increased reliance on renewables is also contributing to lower household energy bills. The EU reportedly saved €51.4 billion in 2025 by reducing its dependence on fossil fuel imports, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). A separate report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) estimates that consumers in five EU countries will save €8.5 billion this year due to the high share of clean energy in their electricity mix.
However, recent events underscore the challenges that remain. Elevated oil and gas prices, exacerbated by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and an unprecedented heatwave in June, led to a surge in European energy bills. In France and Germany alone, energy bills increased by over €700 million in a single week as demand for cooling spiked, forcing a temporary return to gas power. This situation has raised questions about the compatibility of the EU's 'merit order' pricing system, where the most expensive power source typically sets the grid price, with a future dominated by renewables. Experts suggest that building sufficient storage and renewable capacity to remove gas from the pricing equation is a long-term solution.