A new analysis by energy think tank Ember shows that, for the first time ever, solar power supplied one quarter of the European Union’s electricity in June.
In June 2026, solar generated a record 52 TWh of electricity across the EU, accounting for 25% of the bloc’s monthly power generation. This surpassed the previous monthly record of 47 TWh (23%), set in May 2026.
Solar was the EU’s largest source of electricity during the month, ahead of nuclear (21%), gas (15%), wind (14%) and hydropower (12%), while coal accounted for just 8%. This marks only the third time that solar has become the EU’s largest source of electricity, following June 2025 and May 2026.
“The rise of solar has been truly phenomenal, surpassing every expectation,” said Chris Rosslowe, Senior Analyst at Ember. “In just a few years, solar has evolved from a marginal technology into a cornerstone of Europe’s energy system, as governments and citizens increasingly turn to affordable, domestically produced energy that can be deployed quickly.”
Record solar generation across Europe coincided with relatively high summer electricity demand, driven in part by increased cooling needs during record-breaking heatwaves. Solar helped support electricity supplies at a time when other generation sources were struggling with the effects of extreme heat and drought.
Solar continues to expand as installations remain at record levels
This milestone follows an exceptionally rapid period of growth over the past five years. In June 2021, solar generated just 21 TWh, representing only 10% of the EU’s electricity.
Between 2021 and 2025, solar generation in the EU grew by more than 20% every year, making it the fastest-growing source of electricity across the bloc. This expansion has been driven primarily by the sustained pace of new installations, with 65.1 GW of solar capacity added in 2025 alone.
Solar reaches new milestones across EU Member States
The growth of solar is evident across the European Union. So far in 2026, 18 EU Member States have recorded new monthly highs for the share of electricity generated from solar power.
In Spain, solar generated 34% of the country’s electricity in June 2026, exceeding one third of total generation for the first time. Spain’s long-standing support for renewable energy has accelerated solar deployment and helped prevent an estimated €10 monthly increase in household electricity bills during the energy crisis that followed the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
In Germany, solar generated more than one third of electricity (33%) for the first time in May, before rising further to 36% in June.
Meanwhile, Poland generated 24% of its electricity from solar in June. Although it remains one of the EU’s largest coal consumers, Poland has also experienced one of Europe’s fastest rates of solar expansion, adding more than 20 GW of solar capacity between 2020 and 2025.
Press release