According to new research, solar energy has, for the first time, emerged as Europe’s primary source of electricity.
A report by Ember, a UK-based energy think tank, reveals that in June, solar panels generated more power than any other source across the European Union, contributing 22.1 percent to the total electricity mix.
This performance placed solar ahead of nuclear power, which accounted for 21.8 percent, and wind turbines, at 15.8 percent, according to the British institution. Gas contributed 14.4 percent, while hydropower made up 12.8 percent of the mix.
Ember noted that at least 13 countries broke their national records for solar power production during this period.
Furthermore, wind power production also reached a new record for Europe, and the share of coal in Europe’s electricity output hit an unprecedented low. Ember estimated coal’s contribution at 6.1 percent across the continent, a decrease from 8.8 percent in 2024.
However, despite these renewable energy milestones, Ember highlighted that the use of coal in the first half of 2025 was still higher than in the same period of 2024, driven by increasing demand for electricity. Overall, electricity demand in the first six months was more than two percent higher than the previous year.
