Solar generated 22.1% of EU electricity in June 2025, surpassing nuclear and wind for the first time
At least 13 EU nations hit all-time high solar output; the Netherlands led with 40.5% share
Coal fell to just 6.1% of EU electricity; 10 countries had zero coal generation in June
Solar power became the European Union’s (EU) leading source of electricity for the first time in June 2025, accounting for 22.1% (45.4 TWh) of total generation. It overtook nuclear and wind as national records in renewable energy drove coal to its lowest contribution on record at 6.1%, according to Ember.
That’s not all. Ember says at least 13 countries in the bloc recorded their highest ever month of solar generation in the month of June. The Netherlands topped with 40.5%, followed by Greece with a 35.1% share.
It attributes the milestone to the continued expansion of solar in recent years alongside a continued increase in hot and sunny weather.
“Record solar helped the EU power system to handle higher levels of demand resulting from heatwaves that gripped the continent towards the end of June,” according to the new Ember analysis.
Wind energy too expanded its share, accounting for 16.6% of the bloc’s electricity share in May 2025, and 15.8% in June 2025. Nuclear power generated 21.8% with 44.7 TWh.
The share of coal, in comparison, slipped from 8.8% in June 2024 to 6.1% this year. Germany, for instance, generated only 12.4% of its power from coal, and Poland 42.9% – both account for the vast majority of the EU’s coal power.
Nevertheless, 10 EU nations had zero coal generation during the reporting month.
“The growth of low-cost renewables is gradually getting Europe’s energy system off the rollercoaster of fossil energy prices,” added Ember’s Senior Energy Analyst, Chris Rosslowe. “The big opportunity now comes from adding battery storage and flexibility to extend the use of renewable power into mornings and evenings, where fossil fuels still set high power prices.”
Ember’s findings echo those shared by Eurostat recently, which reported that the EU’s renewable energy supply increased 3.4% year-on-year (YoY) in 2024 to around 11.3 million terajoules, whereas coal use plummeted to historic lows (see EU’s 2024 Energy Mix: Renewables Up, Coal Down).