By Anna Peverieri
(Reuters) -Solar power was the European Union’s largest source of electricity for the first time in June, overtaking nuclear and wind while coal’s contribution fell to an all-time low, data from energy think tank Ember showed on Thursday.
Solar generated 22.1% of the EU’s electricity last month, up from 18.9%% a year earlier, as record sunshine and continued solar installations pushed output to 45.4 terawatt hours (TWh). Nuclear followed closely at 21.8% and wind contributed 15.8% of the mix.
At least 13 EU countries, including Germany, Spain and the Netherlands, recorded highest-ever monthly solar generation, Ember said.
“This milestone shows how rapidly the EU’s power system is changing,” said Chris Rosslowe, senior energy analyst at Ember and lead author of the report. “Solar is stepping up when it’s needed most – during summer heatwaves and peak demand.”
Coal’s share of the EU electricity mix fell to a record low of 6.1% in June, compared to 8.8% last year, with 28% less electricity generated than a year earlier.
Germany and Poland, which together generated nearly 80% of the 27-country bloc’s coal-fired electricity in June, also saw record monthly lows. Coal accounted for 12.4% of Germany’s electricity mix and 42.9% of Poland’s.
Spain, nearing a full phase-out of coal, generated just 0.6% of its electricity from coal in the same period.
Wind power also set new records in May and June, rebounding after poor wind conditions resulted in a weak start to the year.
But despite record solar and wind output in June, fossil fuel usage in the first half of 2025 grew 13% from last year, driven by a 19% increase in gas generation to offset weak hydro and wind output earlier in the year.
Electricity demand in the EU rose 2.2% in the first half of the year, with five of the first six months showing year-on-year increases.
The next challenge for Europe’s power system is to expand battery storage and grid flexibility to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels during non-solar hours, Ember said in the report.
(Reporting by Anna Peverieri in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)
