Solar power reached a historic milestone in the European Union, generating 25% of the bloc’s electricity in June 2026 for the first time ever. This made solar the largest single source of electricity in the EU during the month, ahead of nuclear, gas, wind and hydropower.
According to an analysis by Ember, solar generation hit a record 52 TWh in June, surpassing the previous monthly record of 47 TWh and a 23% share set in May 2026. It marks only the third time that solar has become the EU’s largest source of electricity, following June 2025 and May 2026.
The record output coincided with higher summer electricity demand, driven in part by increased cooling needs during Europe’s heatwaves. Strong solar generation helped maintain electricity supplies while other power sources faced challenges due to hot temperatures and low wind conditions.
The milestone reflects the rapid expansion of solar capacity across Europe. Solar’s share of EU electricity has increased from 10% in June 2021, when it generated 21 TWh, to 25% in June 2026. Between 2021 and 2025, solar generation grew by more than 20% annually, supported by the installation of 65.1 GW of new capacity in 2025, the fastest growth of any power generation technology.
The trend is also evident at the national level. So far in 2026, 18 EU Member States have recorded new monthly highs for the share of electricity generated by solar. In Spain, solar provided 34% of electricity in June, exceeding one-third of the country’s power mix for the first time. Germany reached a 36% share in June after surpassing 33% in May, while Poland generated 24% of its electricity from solar, despite remaining one of the EU’s largest coal users.