Europe’s Power Emissions Spike as Clean Energy Falls in 2025

In the first three months of 2025, Europe’s power industry released more carbon dioxide than in any quarter since early 2023. This increase happened because there was less clean energy available, which forced power companies to burn more coal and gas.

During January to March 2025, nearly 390 million metric tons of CO2 were emitted, which is 23.5 million tons more than in the same period last year. This marks a stop to two straight years of decreasing pollution rates in Europe. Major countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United Kingdom contributed significantly to this rise by using more fossil fuels for power generation.

Clean energy production fell by 5% across Europe compared to the same period in 2024. Germany and the UK showed the biggest drops. Wind energy was particularly low, with Germany experiencing a 30% decrease in wind power generation compared to last year. Other countries, like the Netherlands and Poland, also saw declines of around 20%.

As a result of reduced clean energy, Europe’s power companies relied more on fossil fuels. Overall production from fossil fuels increased by 7% in early 2025. Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and the UK raised their outputs more than the regional average. In Germany, while gas generation stayed mostly the same, coal production jumped by 15%. The UK increased gas generation by 23%, but coal power was completely replaced due to the closure of its last coal plant.

Looking ahead, more solar energy production is anticipated as Europe moves into its sunny season, which could help decrease fossil fuel use, especially as the demand for heat lessens. However, the overall power demand is also affected by how much factories produce, which has been fluctuating this year. New tariffs on U.S. goods could also hinder growth.

If factory output remains low, power firms may cut back on fossil fuel use, which would help emissions. But if manufacturing grows strong due to stimulus and increased spending on defense, companies might have to use more fossil fuels, leading to higher emissions again.