SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

Solar energy becomes EU’s leading electricity source in June 2025

Solar energy reached a record share of 22.1% in the European electricity mix in June 2025, becoming for the first time the main source of electricity in the European Union, according to a report by think tank Ember.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

START NOW — 4.90$/month

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

SUBSCRIBE — 99$/year

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

Sign up for free to unlock this article

According to a report published by energy analysis centre Ember, the share of solar energy in European electricity production reached 22.1% in June 2025. This represents a historic level, positioning solar energy as the main source of electricity production in the European Union (EU) for the first time. Thirteen EU countries also recorded their highest ever monthly solar production, notably the Netherlands with a record share of 40.5% and Greece with 35.1%. This unprecedented level comes after several years of significant development in new solar capacities within these countries.

Sharp rise in energy demand

The record solar performance helped European electricity grids to cope with a substantial increase in energy demand due to heatwaves that impacted the continent at the end of June. These weather conditions led to high stress on electrical systems, with notably increased demand for air conditioning. Wind power also had a strong start to the summer, supplying 16.6% and 15.8% of total EU electricity in May and June 2025 respectively, marking record levels for these two months. Favourable wind conditions primarily explain this performance.

Record drop in coal usage

Parallel to solar energy’s rise, the share of coal in European electricity production reached a historic low of 6.1% in June 2025, down from 8.8% in June 2024. This decline in coal accompanies the growth in renewable energies, which accounted for almost three quarters of European electricity production during this month. In Germany and Poland, the main coal consumers within the EU, coal-fired electricity production recorded historic lows of 12.4% and 42.9% respectively in June. Other countries such as Czechia (17.9%), Bulgaria (16.7%), Denmark (3.3%) and Spain (0.6%) also reported their lowest monthly coal-based production during this period.

Progressive coal phase-out in several countries

Ireland officially closed its last coal plant on June 20, 2025, becoming the tenth European country without any coal-fired electricity production. Spain and Slovakia have also scheduled definitive shutdown dates for their coal plants throughout 2025. By the end of June, ten EU countries produced no electricity from coal. This trend is part of a broader pattern observed across Europe in recent years, with progressive closures of coal-fired power plants.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
Iberdrola adds 708 MW of solar capacity to joint venture with Norges Bank
EDF power solutions and El Paso Electric launch 150 MW solar facility in New Mexico
Alkagesta opens biofuels trading desk in Geneva to strengthen its investments
TotalEnergies sells Norwegian oil assets to Vår Energi to reduce debt
Clariant targeted by BP and ExxonMobil in ethylene case
Doral Renewables signs contract for 430 MW of solar power in Texas
Doral Renewables has signed a power purchase agreement for 75% of the output from its Cold Creek Solar project, expanding its contracted portfolio to over 1.6 GW nationwide.
France: SNCF signs two 25-year solar contracts with Octopus and BayWa r.e.
SNCF Voyageurs secures direct solar electricity supply from two plants owned by Octopus Energy and BayWa r.e., through 25-year agreements aimed at powering its rail network.
Solar and storage equipment prices to rise 9% from Q4 2025
The end of China's VAT rebate and reduced output bring an end to eighteen months of historically low prices in solar and storage sectors.
Kuwait shortlists bidders for 500 MW photovoltaic solar project
The Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects has shortlisted several companies for Phase III of the Al Dibdibah solar plant, with a net capacity of 500 MW.
Indian regulator opens proceedings over solar firms’ losses linked to transmission delays
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has agreed to examine compensation claims by ACME Solar and AMPIN Energy, citing losses caused by non-operational transmission lines.
Waaree Energies launches 950 MW solar unit at its Gujarat plant
Waaree Energies has activated a new 950 MW photovoltaic module production line in Degam, strengthening its industrial investment programme in western India.
India launches tender for 3,640 kW rooftop solar under SECI
India opens a new rooftop solar tender phase, offering 3,640 kW under the RESCO model, with a pre-bid meeting held online on October 6 by Solar Energy Corporation of India.
Shizen Energy secures 100MW in solar contracts with Microsoft in Japan
The Japanese developer has reached a total of 100MW in solar capacity under power purchase agreements with Microsoft, spread across four projects in the country, two of which are already operational.
Neoen secures four new long-term solar PPAs with SNCF Énergie
SNCF Énergie signed four new renewable electricity purchase agreements with Neoen in July, covering the annual consumption equivalent of the TGV Paris–Bordeaux line.
RWE commissions 4 MWp solar park on former landfill site in Charente-Maritime
RWE has inaugurated a 4 megawatt-peak solar park in Charente-Maritime, built on a former municipal landfill site and capable of supplying electricity to approximately 1,500 households.
Red Rocket secures financing for 331 MWp solar park in South Africa
Producer Red Rocket has finalised financing for a 331 MWp solar park in Mpumalanga, backed by a 20-year power purchase agreement with Discovery Green.
SIG launches €1.6mn fundraising for 12 solar projects in Italy
Sun Investment Group has launched a crowdfunding campaign with Enerfip to raise up to €1.6mn ($1.7mn) to support the development of twelve photovoltaic plants in Italy totalling 113 MW.
GreenYellow to build 1.5 MWp solar power plant for Volailles et Traditions in Mauritius
GreenYellow will develop a 1.5 MWp photovoltaic plant in Mauritius for Volailles et Traditions, with an expected annual output of 2.45 GWh fed into the national power grid.
Thailand can save $1.8 billion by boosting solar and battery capacity
An alternative energy scenario proposes increasing solar and storage capacity by 2037 to reduce fossil fuel dependence and cut electricity generation costs in Thailand.
Osaka Gas and Daiwa acquire 25MW solar plant from Kyocera
Osaka Gas and Daiwa Energy & Infrastructure have formed a partnership to expand their renewable energy business with the acquisition of a 25MW solar power plant in Kyoto, formerly owned by Kyocera TCL Solar.
GSU met en service 50 MW solaires avec stockage à N’Djamena
Global South Utilities, filiale de Resources Investment LTD, inaugure à N’Djamena la centrale Noor Chad de 50 MW avec 5 MWh de stockage, dimensionnée pour alimenter des centaines de milliers de foyers et exploitée directement par l’entreprise.
European Union unlocks €545mn to modernise African power grids
Nine African countries will receive €545mn ($638mn) in European Union funding to support rural electrification and strengthen regional renewable energy infrastructure.
TotalEnergies sells 50% of North American solar assets for $950 million
TotalEnergies will transfer half of a 1.4 gigawatt solar portfolio to KKR, strengthening its position in the North American power market while securing $950 million through the sale and bank refinancing.
EDP inaugurates a 16MWc solar park on brownfield land in Menestreau
EDP, via EDP Renewables, inaugurates in Menestreau (Nièvre) a photovoltaic park of nearly 16MWc, comprising 29,630 panels and designed to produce about 19GWh per year, in co-activity with sheep farming.
SunPower finalises the acquisition of Sunder Energy and doubles its sales force
The transaction creates the fifth-largest US residential solar player by installed megawatts, doubles the sales force to 1,734 representatives and targets a record operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2025.