In June 2026, solar energy generated one-quarter of all electricity in the European Union for the first time. With 52 terawatt-hours, solar surpassed nuclear, gas, and wind in a single month. Five years earlier, solar accounted for just ten percent of EU power.
How Solar Grew from Ten to 25 Percent in Five Years
Energy think tank Ember, which tracks EU power data monthly, found that solar's share reached 25 percent in June 2026, making it the largest single power source in the EU grid for the first time. Nuclear power came second at 21 percent, followed by gas at 15 percent, wind at 14 percent, hydropower at 12 percent, and coal at 8 percent.
In June 2021, solar generated just 21 terawatt-hours in the EU, roughly ten percent of the power mix. In the five years since, solar power generation grew by more than one-fifth annually, faster than any other energy source. EU installed solar capacity surpassed 400 gigawatts for the first time in 2025, a target the EU had set in its 2022 solar strategy. Alone in 2025, 65.1 gigawatts were added.
June 2026 was the third month in EU history when solar led all power sources. Solar topped the ranking in June 2025 and May 2026 as well, but below the 25-percent threshold. Crossing this mark in June 2026 represents a milestone distinct from previous records, Ember notes.
Germany Leads, Poland Surprises, Spain Peaks
Eighteen of the 27 EU member states set new monthly records for solar's share of power generation in the first half of 2026. Three countries stand out.
Germany generated more than one-third of its electricity from solar for the first time in June 2026, reaching 36 percent, up from 33 percent in May. Spain's solar share climbed to 34 percent in June, also a national record and the first time above one-third. The Iberian Peninsula benefits from particularly abundant sunshine and extensive photovoltaic infrastructure.
The most striking figure comes from Poland, still among Europe's largest coal consumers. In June 2026, solar already supplied 24 percent of Poland's electricity. Additionally, a prolonged heat wave across several EU countries drove air-conditioning demand, keeping solar plants running at high capacity during midday hours.
What Denmark Shows: 88 Percent Renewables Are Possible
The EU average of 25 percent solar in a single month is historic, but it also reveals what remains unachieved. Denmark sourced roughly 88 percent of its electricity from renewables in 2024, primarily wind, making it the EU member with the highest share. From June 2025 through May 2026, Denmark's renewable share reached even 93 percent, according to analytics platform Low Carbon Power.
For comparison: renewables provided about 47 percent of EU electricity in 2024 when combining wind, solar, hydropower, and biomass, Eurostat reports. June's 25 percent solar alone is no anomaly but another point on a clearly rising trend.
Solar's rapid expansion reflects dramatic cost declines. Since 2010, solar module prices have fallen more than 90 percent according to analyses by Lazard and the International Energy Agency. Each new photovoltaic plant produces cheaper power than its predecessor. This cost momentum accelerates deployment across Europe, even in countries with fewer sunshine hours than Spain.
What Remains Unresolved in Winter
June's record is a summer milestone. In winter, solar's share of EU power shrinks to three to five percent as daylight hours shorten and sun angles flatten. This means the EU remains dependent on sources that generate independently of season. Nuclear power holds its share steady; wind is weather-dependent but not seasonal; gas remains essential for meeting peak demand.
Solar's weight in annual averages becomes clear with a simple calculation: 52 terawatt-hours in June typically contrasts with perhaps eight to ten terawatt-hours in a January month. The annual average thus falls well below June's 25 percent. Eurostat's 2024 data put solar's EU annual average at about ten percent. Growth toward 2030 is certain. How much depends largely on how quickly storage and flexible loads harness summer's midday surpluses.