An inevitable transition

Efforts to pursue a green transition in the European Union (EU) have marked a historic milestone as, for the first time, solar power became the largest source of electricity supply. With the climate crisis growing ever more severe, green energy has served a dual role: safeguarding energy security and curbing global temperature rise.

A supermarket in Germany installs a solar panel system. (Photo: Xinhua)

A recent report by the clean energy transition research organisation Ember revealed that solar energy accounted for 22.1% of the total electricity generated in the EU in June.

As many as 13 countries within the EU simultaneously reached record levels in solar power generation. At the same time, the share of coal-fired electricity fell to a record low of just 6.1% of the EU’s electricity output. These are not mere statistical figures, but significant milestones in the EU’s energy transition journey.

According to research by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the cost of producing solar and photovoltaic energy, once four times higher than fossil fuels, is now 41% cheaper. The primary reason behind this cost reduction has been the strong investment by countries in developing relevant technologies, accelerating the spread of clean energy.

The EU is not alone on this green path. According to the United Nations, the energy transition has become an irreversible trend and a shared choice of many nations. In 2024, global investment in clean energy reached 2 trillion USD, nearly a 70% increase over the past decade. While clean energy is gradually dominating the market, investment in fossil fuels has declined to just over 1 trillion USD during the same period.

The dawn of the clean energy era is no coincidence. In terms of cost, over 90% of newly generated renewable electricity globally is now cheaper than fossil fuels.

According to research by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the cost of producing solar and photovoltaic energy, once four times higher than fossil fuels, is now 41% cheaper. The primary reason behind this cost reduction has been the strong investment by countries in developing relevant technologies, accelerating the spread of clean energy.

Beyond costs, clean energy also offers major environmental benefits. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that solar and wind power have helped reduce global carbon emissions by an amount nearly equal to the EU’s total annual emissions. In a world facing an increasingly severe climate crisis, cutting greenhouse gas emissions has become more critical than ever.

Scientists estimate that fossil fuel combustion emits over 20 billion tonnes of CO₂ annually, along with numerous pollutants that damage the environment. The development of renewable energy is an inevitable trend as countries race to meet their carbon neutrality targets and combat climate change on schedule.

The faster the energy transition occurs, the more the world can avoid the severe consequences of climate change. Tobias Grimm, a climate scientist at reinsurance company Munich Re, emphasised that climate change is increasing both the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. In just the first half of 2025, global economic losses from wildfires, storms, earthquakes, and natural disasters reached 131 billion USD. Weather-related disasters accounted for 88% of the total losses. This is a warning of the consequences of climate change.

While worsening climate change and the risk of a global energy crisis pose significant challenges, they also serve as powerful incentives for many countries to ramp up investment in renewable energy. The inevitable shift from fossil fuels to renewables is a key factor enabling countries to achieve carbon neutrality and protect our green planet.

NDO