Background

Ember is a London-based climate and energy think tank, founded in 2017. It publishes the Global Electricity Review and the European Electricity Review, using real-time and historical system operator data to track electricity generation trends. Its outputs are cited by policymakers, the IEA, investors, and media worldwide.

Ember's 2025 full-year data found that renewables exceeded fossil fuels in EU electricity generation for the first time (30% vs 29%), but the EU power sector's gas bill still reached EUR 32 billion, up 16% year-on-year. It exposed a structural North-South divide: gas sets the electricity price 90% of the time in Italy but only 15% in Spain and Portugal, explaining why Italy cleared at EUR 133/MWh versus Spain's EUR 29/MWh on 13 April 2026.

Common Questions

Did renewables beat fossil fuels in Europe in 2025?

Yes. According to Ember, wind and solar generated 30% of EU electricity in 2025 versus 29% from fossil fuels, the first time renewables exceeded fossil generation in EU electricity.Source: Ember

Why is Europe's gas electricity bill still rising if renewables are growing?

Ember found that despite renewables overtaking fossil fuels overall, reduced hydro output forced an 8% rise in gas generation in 2025. The EU power sector's gas import bill hit EUR 32bn, up 16% year-on-year.Source: Ember

Why are electricity prices so different in Italy versus Spain?

Gas sets the electricity price 90% of the time in Italy but only 15% in Spain, according to Ember, because Spain has FAR more solar and wind generation. On 13 April 2026, Italy cleared at EUR 133/MWh while Spain cleared at EUR 29/MWh.Source: Ember

Did renewables overtake fossil fuels in EU electricity generation in 2025?

Yes. According to Ember's 2025 European Electricity Review, wind and solar combined reached 30% of EU electricity generation in 2025, exceeding fossil fuels at 29% for the first time.Source: European Energy Markets, Update #1

Why is Italy's electricity price so much higher than Spain's?

Gas sets Italy's electricity price approximately 90% of the time due to limited interconnection and lower renewables penetration, versus only 15% of the time in Spain. On 13 April 2026, Italy cleared at EUR 133/MWh against Spain's EUR 29/MWh.Source: Ember analysis; European Energy Markets, Update #1

What is Ember and how does it track European power prices?

Ember is a London-based climate think tank founded in 2017. It collects real-time electricity generation data from national system operators across Europe and globally, publishing country-level analysis of generation mix, pricing, and policy outcomes.Source: Ember institutional information

Why did EU gas import bills rise even though renewables were generating more power?

Despite renewables overtaking fossil fuels in EU electricity generation, gas generation rose 8% in 2025 to compensate for reduced hydro output. This pushed the EU power sector gas import bill to EUR 32 billion, a 16% year-on-year rise.Source: Ember European Electricity Review 2025

How the World Sees Them

EU Commission

Ember's country-level data feeds into EU power market design reform debates, particularly the case for contracts for difference that would decouple electricity prices from gas in high-renewables markets.

Southern Europe

Spain and Portugal's high renewables penetration insulates them from gas price-setting most of the time; their low power costs are now a competitive advantage attracting energy-intensive industry.

Climate advocates

Even as renewables overtook fossil fuels in generation, Ember's gas bill data demonstrates that generation shares and consumer bills can diverge sharply under merit-order market design.

Northern and Central Europe

Italy, Germany, and Netherlands face gas-at-margin pricing most of the time; Ember's data makes the case for accelerated interconnection and demand-response investment.