Renewable energies have allowed the European Union to avoid €99 billion in fossil gas imports since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, with an increase of €11 billion compared to last year thanks to record growth in wind and solar capacity, according to a new report. Wind and solar generated a record 24% of EU electricity from March to September this year (345 terawatt hours), growing a record 39 TWh year-on-year, up from 21% of EU electricity in the same period last year. Nineteen EU countries achieved a wind and solar record, including France (14%), Italy (20%), Poland (17%) and Spain (35%). The record increase in wind and solar compared to last year avoided the need for eight billion cubic metres of additional fossil gas at a cost of €11 billion. It also helped mitigate the reduction in hydroelectricity generation caused by droughts and a decline in nuclear production caused by maintenance and a series of failures in the French nuclear fleet. “Wind and solar are already helping European citizens,” said Chris Rosslowe, senior analyst at Ember. “But the future potential is even greater,” he added. https://ember-climate.org/press-releases/eus-record-growth-in-wind-and-solar-avoids-e11bn-in-gas-costs-during-war/