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Ember
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Ember

Energy think tank that found renewables beat fossil fuels in EU electricity for the first time in 2025.

Last refreshed: 22 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Why does Italy pay EUR 130 per MWh when Spain pays EUR 29 with the same renewables target?

Timeline for Ember

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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

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.

More questions
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