This paper examines the impact of clean energy integration on CO2 intensity in European power systems over 2015–2024, based on a dataset of 38 European countries. The study applies three analyses: (i) descriptive statistics on cross-country patterns, (ii) fixed-effects regression on clean energy and CO2 intensity, and (iii) crisis-period modelling for 2021–2022. The descriptive results reveal significant heterogeneity. The average clean energy share is 30.8%, ranging from below 5% (Malta, Moldova) to above 45% (France) and approximately 38% (Sweden). Accordingly, CO2 intensity varies between 23.6 gCO2/kWh (Sweden) and 982 gCO2/kWh (Kosovo), indicating different decarbonization rates across Europe. Regression analysis provides statistically significant evidence that clean energy is associated with lower carbon intensity. A one-point increase in the share of wind and solar power corresponds to a reduction of 12.18 gCO2/kWh (p < 0.01), while a similar increase in other clean sources (hydroelectric, nuclear) corresponds to a decrease of 12.24 gCO2/kWh (p < 0.01). Electricity demand has no statistically significant relationship with CO2 intensity. Crisis-era modeling shows insignificant interaction terms for 2021-2022, suggesting stability of the relationships during the crisis. Overall, the findings support the importance of clean energy integration, highlight persistent inequalities across countries, and the value of policy resilience during major energy shocks.
Keywords. Clean energy integration; CO2 intensity; European power systems; Decarbonisation; Energy transition
References
Ahman, M., Nilsson, L. J., & Johansson, B. (2017). Global climate policy and deep decarbonization of energy-intensive industries. Climate Policy, 17(5), 634-649.
Papadis, E., & Tsatsaronis, G. (2020). Challenges in the decarbonization of the energy sector. Ener- gy, 205, 118025.
Perissi, I. ; Jones, A. (2022). Investigating European Union decarbonization strategies : Evaluating the pathway to carbon neutrality by 2050. Sustainability, 14(8), 4728.
Tagliapietra, S., Zachmann, G., Edenhofer, O., Glachant, J. M., Linares, P., & Loeschel, A. (2019). The European union energy transition : Key priorities for the next five years. Energy Policy, 132, 950-954.
Sasse, J. P., & Trutnevyte, E. (2020). Regional impacts of electricity system transition in Central Europe until 2035. Nature communications, 11(1), 4972.
Pereira, G. I., da Silva, P. P., & Soule, D. (2018). Policy-adaptation for a more innovative and more sustainable EU electricity distribution industry : A foresight analysis. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 20(Suppl 1), 231-267.
Lotze, J., Moser, M., Savvidis, G., Keles, D., & Hagenmeyer, V. (2024). The complementary role of energy system and power grid models : An analysis of the European energy transformation from a holistic perspective. Energy Conversion and Management, 315, 118761.
Bastos, J., Prina, M. G., & Garcia, R. (2023). Life-cycle assessment of current and future electricity supply addressing average and marginal hourly demand : An application to Italy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 399, 136563.
Gilbert, A. L. E. X., Bazilian, M. D., & Gross, S. A. M. A. N. T. H. A. (2021). The emerging global natural gas market and the energy crisis of 2021-2022. Foreign Policy, Brookings, 1, 1-10.
Rokicki, T., Bórawski, P., & Szeberényi, A. (2023). The impact of the 2020–2022 crises on eu countries’ independence from energy imports, particularly from russia. Energies, 16(18), 6629.
Collins, S., Deane, P., Gallachóir, B. Ó., Pfenninger, S., & Staffell, I. (2018). Impacts of inter-annual wind and solar variations on the European power system. Joule, 2(10), 2076-2090.
López Prol, J., & Schill, W. P. (2021). The economics of variable renewable energy and electricity storage. Annual Review of Resource Economics, 13(1), 443-467.
Simshauser, P., Billimoria, F., & Rogers, C. (2022). Optimising VRE capacity in renewable energy zones. Energy Economics, 113, 106239.
Raineri, R. (2025). Power Shift : Decarbonization and the New Dynamics of Energy Markets. Ener- gies, 18(3), 752.
Geels, F. W., Sovacool, B. K., Schwanen, T., & Sorrell, S. (2017). The socio-technical dynamics of low-carbon transitions. Joule, 1(3), 463-479.
Newbery, D. M. (2016). Towards a green energy economy ? The EU Energy Union’s transition to a low-carbon zero subsidy electricity system–Lessons from the UK’s Electricity Market Reform. Applied Energy, 179, 1321-1330.
Dechamps, P. (2023). The IEA World Energy Outlook 2022–a brief analysis and implications. European Energy & Climate Journal, 11(3), 100-103.
Gielen, D., Gorini, R., Leme, R., Prakash, G., Wagner, N., Janeiro, L., … & Saygin, D. (2021). World energy transitions outlook : 1.5◦C pathway.
EMBER, O. (2023). European electricity review 2023. In Ember’s Analysis of the EU Electricity Transition in 2022 : What Happened in 2022, What Can We Expect for 2023 ?. Ember.
Ember. (2025) Monthly Electricity Data. Ember Climate. Retrieved from https://ember-energy.org/d ata/monthly-electricity-data/
European Commission. (2021). The European Green Deal. Retrieved from https://commission.europ a.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en
Petrariu, R. I., Năstase, M., Croitoru, G., Florea, N. V., Cristache, N., & Ibinceanu, M. C. O. (2023). Analysis of Responsible Energy Consumer’s Behaviour in the Context of REPowerEU Plan. Amfiteatru Economic, 25(64), 743-759.
Ćetković, S., & Buzogány, A. (2016). Varieties of capitalism and clean energy transitions in the Euro- pean Union : When renewable energy hits different economic logics. Climate Policy, 16(5), 642-657.
Bang, G., Rosendahl, K. E., & Böhringer, C. (2022). Balancing cost and justice concerns in the energy transition : comparing coal phase-out policies in Germany and the UK. Climate Policy, 22(8), 1000-1015.
Chovancová, J., Petruška, I., Pata, U. K., & Adamišin, P. (2025). Diverse pathways to decarbonization : cluster-specific impacts of energy sources on CO2 emissions in the European Union. Energy Nexus, 17, 100367.
How to cite this article
Uyar, M. and Hayber, S.E. (2025). 'Impact of Clean Energy Integration on CO2 Intensity in European Power Systems'. Global Decarbonisation, 1, pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.17184/eac.9904
Check for updates