Power production from renewables surpassed generation from fossil fuels for the first time in the European Union in 2020, and largely avoided the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures to curb it, according to EU statistics office Eurostat.

Citing preliminary data, Eurostat said Tuesday that sheltering in place and lower energy demand that ensued sunk power generation from fossil fuels to some 1,023 TWh last year, a decrease of 9.8% compared to 2019 and the lowest point since 1990.

Renewables, on the other hand, thrived over the same period. In 2020, renewable power production reached 1,053 TWh, up from 979.9 TWh a year prior and much more than 303.3 TWh generated in 1990.