Solar Beat Nuclear Energy As EU’s Top Power Source In June 2025

Solar energy was the main source of electricity generation in the European Union (EU) in June 2025. This marks a historic first as its 22% share surpassed nuclear energy’s 21.6% to lead the bloc’s power generation. 

Solar was also ahead of wind energy’s 15.8% share, hydro’s 14.1% and natural gas’s 13.8% contribution during the reporting month. It also generated 122,317 GWh during Q2 2025, representing 19.9% of the total electricity generation mix. 

Thanks to solar energy, the share of renewables in the bloc’s net electricity generation mix jumped to 54% during Q2 this year, up from 52.7% in Q2 2024, according to the latest data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU.

Earlier, analysis from global energy think tank Ember had also stated solar power as the leading source of electricity in the EU with 22.1% or 45.4 TWh of total generation in June this year (see Solar Becomes EU’s Top Power Source For First Time, In June 2025).

According to Eurostat, Denmark led with the highest share of renewables in the net electricity generated in the bloc during the reporting quarter at 94.7%. It was followed by Latvia’s 93.4%, Austria’s 91.8%, Croatia’s 89.5%, and Portugal’s 85.6% share.

In comparison, Slovakia, Malta, and Czechia were the ones with the lowest renewables share at 19.9%, 21.2% and 22.1%, respectively. 

The largest year-on-year (YoY) increase in the share of renewable energy sources in the net electricity generation was recorded in Luxembourg with a 13.5 percentage point (pp) increase, and in Belgium with 9.1 pp. In these nations, out of the 15 countries that reported an increase in renewable energy share in their electricity generation mix, solar led with 36.8%, wind 29.5%, and hydro 26%. 

Renewable energy’s consistent growth has been pushing down the use of coal in the EU’s power generation to historic lows. In 2024, Eurostat reported renewable energy as the leading source of electricity in the EU, growing over 44.9% over 2023, led by solar PV (see EU’s 2024 Energy Mix: Renewables Up, Coal Down).