According to Eurostat, in the third quarter of 2025 renewable energy sources accounted for 49.3% of net electricity generation in the European Union. This marks a noticeable improvement compared to the same period in 2024, when the share stood at 47.5%. The growing contribution of solar and wind power demonstrates Europe’s steady transition toward greener energy and reduced dependence on fossil fuels.
Cyprus’s Position Compared to Other EU States
Despite overall improvements within the bloc, Cyprus once again ranked among the lowest performers in terms of electricity generation from renewable sources. In the third quarter of 2025, the country placed fifth from the bottom, ahead of only France, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Malta, which traditionally remains the weakest performer in the ranking. Significant fluctuations in domestic figures point to strong seasonality and a high dependence on weather conditions.
In June 2025, Cyprus produced 512.39 GWh of “green” electricity. Output increased in July and August to 655.94 GWh and 640.49 GWh respectively, before falling to 544.89 GWh in September. This dynamic highlights that solar generation, despite favorable climatic conditions, is still constrained by grid capacity and energy storage infrastructure.
Leaders and Laggards of the Energy Transition
Denmark showed the strongest performance in Europe, with 95.9% of its total electricity generation coming from renewable sources. It is followed by Austria at 93.3% and Estonia at 85.6%. These countries actively develop wind energy, hydropower, and advanced solar capacity, ensuring steady annual growth.
At the other end of the scale, the lowest shares of renewable energy were recorded in Malta (16.6%), the Czech Republic (19.7%), and Slovakia (21.1%). Overall, 21 EU countries managed to achieve year-on-year growth in the share of renewables, confirming the broader trend toward sustainable energy development.
Main Sources of “Green” Electricity in the EU
Eurostat notes that solar power leads the EU’s renewable energy mix, accounting for 38.3% of all renewable electricity produced. Wind power follows with 30.7%, while hydropower represents 23.3%. The remaining share comes from renewable combustible fuels at 7.2% and geothermal energy at 0.5%.
Prospects for Cyprus
In 2025, Cyprus launched new projects focused on installing energy storage systems, expanding grid infrastructure, and developing offshore wind farms, which are currently at the environmental impact assessment stage. These initiatives are expected to significantly reduce the country’s gap with the EU average by 2027–2028. The government is also considering hybrid energy models that combine solar power plants with storage systems, which would help mitigate seasonal fluctuations and increase the effective share of renewables in the national energy mix.