Germany remained the EU’s leading renewable energy producer, with solar power generating 33%.
BRUSSELS: Solar power became the European Union’s largest source of electricity for the first time in June 2026, generating a record 25% of the bloc’s monthly electricity supply, according to a report by energy think tank Ember.
The report said the EU produced a record 52 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity from solar energy during June, surpassing all other power sources.
Nuclear energy accounted for 21% of electricity generation, followed by natural gas at 15%, wind at 14%, hydropower at 12%, and coal at just 8%.
Ember attributed the milestone to the EU’s rapid expansion of solar capacity, which has grown by an average of more than 20% annually between 2021 and 2025. In 2025 alone, member states installed 65.1 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity.
The report noted that solar energy played a crucial role in meeting higher electricity demand during an intense heatwave, helping maintain reliable power supplies while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Germany remained the EU’s leading renewable energy producer, with solar power generating 33% of the country’s electricity for the first time in May 2026, rising to 36% in June.
Spain also reached a milestone, producing 34% of its electricity from solar energy in June. Since 2019, Spain has added more than 40 GW of combined wind and solar capacity, contributing to lower electricity bills for consumers.
