Solar power hits 25% of EU electricity and fuels German renewable surge

In June 2026 solar generation supplied a record 52 TWh, equal to 25 % of the European Union’s electricity and becoming the bloc’s largest single source, ahead of nuclear (21 %), gas (15 %) and wind (14 %). The surge was driven by rapid installations – 65.1 GW of new capacity in 2025 – and by unusually high summer demand for cooling. Spain led the jump, with solar accounting for 34 % of its electricity, while households saved roughly €10 per month on bills.

Germany mirrored the trend. In the first half of 2026 renewables provided 57.7 % of the country’s power, with solar’s share reaching 36 % in June, the highest on record. More than six million photovoltaic systems now generate over 125 GW, and an estimated 7.4‑8.3 GW of new PV capacity was added between January and June 2026. The increase was spurred by the Iran‑Iraq war and the announced phase‑out of private solar subsidies, which created a short‑term “pre‑emptive” buying wave. Industry groups are urging the German government to adopt stable, long‑term support measures to sustain the expansion.