Solar energy supplied a record 25% of the European Union’s electricity in June, producing 52 terawatt-hours (TWh) and marking the first time the renewable source has accounted for a quarter of the bloc’s monthly power generation.
The output exceeded the previous monthly high of 47 TWh, or 23% of total electricity generation, recorded in May 2026.
During the month, solar became the EU’s largest source of electricity, contributing 25% of total generation. It outpaced nuclear power at 21%, followed by natural gas at 15%, wind at 14%, hydropower at 12% and coal at 8%.
June was only the third occasion that solar ranked as the EU’s leading electricity source, after June 2025 and May 2026.
Chris Rosslowe, Senior Analyst at Ember, said solar power has continued to exceed expectations, rapidly transforming from a relatively minor contributor into a key pillar of Europe’s electricity system as governments and consumers increasingly invest in affordable, domestically generated renewable energy.
The growth has been significant over recent years. In June 2021, solar accounted for just 10% of the EU’s electricity generation, producing 21 TWh.
Between 2021 and 2025, solar generation expanded by more than 20% annually across the EU, making it the fastest-growing source of electricity. The increase has been driven largely by rapid capacity additions, with 65.1 gigawatts (GW) of new solar installations completed in 2025.
The record generation in June coincided with elevated electricity demand during the summer, partly due to increased cooling needs as Europe experienced intense heatwaves. Strong solar output helped support the power grid at a time when other generation sources faced operational challenges caused by hot and low-wind conditions.
Among member states, Spain continued to lead the energy transition, with solar providing 34% of its electricity generation in June.
Germany also reached a new milestone after solar accounted for more than one-third of its electricity production for the first time in May, before rising further to 36% in June. In Poland, solar contributed approximately 24% of total electricity generation during the month.
The latest figures underscore the EU’s accelerating transition towards renewable energy, strengthening energy security while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels amid continued volatility in global energy markets.
