Solar power plants were the largest single source of electricity in the European Union in June, accounting for a record 25 per cent of total generation, according to an analysis by the energy think-tank Ember, as reported by Poslovni dnevnik.
Nuclear power plants generated 21 per cent of electricity in the same month. They were followed by natural gas at 15 per cent, wind at 14 per cent, hydropower at 12 per cent, and coal at eight per cent.
This is only the third time that solar energy has taken the top spot among electricity sources in the EU. Previously, this occurred in June 2025 and May 2026, the dpa agency reports.
The result confirms the strong growth of solar energy in Europe in recent years. In June 2021, the sun provided just 10 per cent of European electricity generation, meaning its share has more than doubled in five years.
Ember highlights that the growth in solar generation coincided with a period of increased consumption: heatwaves in May and June raised cooling demands and further strained the power system. Solar energy helped maintain a stable supply at times when other sources faced challenges due to high temperatures and weaker winds.
