What happened
Coal generated 9.2% of electricity in the EU during 2025, according to İklim Haber, which attributes the figure to Eurostat. The publication describes this as the lowest recorded share.
The report challenges social-media assertions that European governments are increasing reliance on hard coal and lignite for power. It says coal supplied more than a third of EU electricity in 1990, falling to 30% by 2000 before continuing its longer-term decline. İklim Haber also reports a 0.6% fall in global coal-fired electricity output in 2025.
Why it matters
The reported result provides a data point for energy and decarbonisation planning at a time of heightened concern over fuel security. İklim Haber links those concerns to Russia’s war on Ukraine, restrictions affecting oil and gas trade between the EU and Russia, and tensions involving the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite these pressures, the publication says it has identified no announced postponement or weakening of the EU’s stated emissions goals. For power-sector decision-makers, the relevant next step is to test procurement, generation and transition assumptions against national coal-exit timelines and the bloc’s emissions trajectory.
Targets and national commitments
İklim Haber says the EU’s net-zero objective for 2050 remains in place. It also cites targets to cut emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and by 90% by 2040.
The report lists the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Portugal, Belgium and Austria as countries that have ended coal-based generation. It identifies France, Spain and Greece as having committed to exit coal before 2030. Germany, Italy, Czechia, Romania and Bulgaria have announced plans to stop using coal no later than 2040, according to the publication.
What to watch
Key milestones are the national commitments scheduled before 2030 and the later 2040 exit dates cited in the report. Businesses with European power exposure can monitor whether policy and market developments remain consistent with those schedules, alongside the EU’s 2030, 2040 and 2050 targets.
