Two Decades of Renewable Energy Growth in Europe

Key Takeaways

• Renewable energy use has continued to increase across Europe over the past two decades. However, starting points and outcomes vary widely by country.
• Early movers such as Iceland and Norway benefited from favorable geography. This allowed renewables to become part of their energy systems early on.
• Large gains in many countries were driven by falling technology costs, supportive policies, and improved grid capacity.
• Germany grew its use of renewable energy from 9.4% in 2004 to nearly 55% by 2024.

Share of Energy from Renewable Sources in European Countries

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Learn something new about Germany every week and make informed decisions with confidence.

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Learn something new about Germany every week and make informed decisions with confidence.

Europe’s renewable energy landscape in 2024 reflects very different starting points.

The Early Leaders: Built on Geography

Iceland and Norway stand out as early movers. These countries have relied on hydropower and geothermal energy for decades.

Favorable geography (e.g., Iceland’s mountainous terrain, Norway’s waterfalls), small populations, and early infrastructure investment allowed renewables to become embedded in their energy systems long ago. By 2004, both were already above 90%. 

For these nations, the challenge was never starting the transition. It is about how they can further expand the systems already built on renewable sources.

The Rapid Changers: Policy-Led Growth

For much of Europe, the renewable transition came later and required deliberate action. Germany offers a clear example. In 2004, renewables made up only a small share of its energy mix. 

How did Germany’s electricity mix change over the years? ->

Over two decades, strong policy support helped reshape Germany’s energy system. This included measures that guaranteed stable prices for renewable electricity, making projects financially viable. Moreover, grid upgrades made it possible to integrate growing wind and solar capacity.

It lifted Germany’s renewable share from 9.4% in 2004 to 54.9% by 2024.

Similar patterns appear across Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. As costs fell and frameworks strengthened, countries recorded some of the largest absolute gains.

In 2024, renewable energy has already shifted from niche to mainstream across Europe. The question is no longer whether the shift to renewables is possible, but how quickly the rest will catch up.