Solar was the leading source of electricity in the EU last month, says report

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 per cent of the EU's electricity last month, up from 18.9 per cent a year earlier, as record sunshine and continued solar installations pushed output to 45.4 terawatt hours. Nuclear followed closely at 21.8 per cent and wind contributed 15.8 per cent 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 heat waves and peak demand."

Coal's share of the EU electricity mix fell to a record low of 6.1 per cent in June, compared to 8.8 per cent last year, with 28 per cent less electricity generated than a year earlier.

Germany and Poland, which together generated nearly 80 per cent of the 27-country bloc's coal-fired electricity in June, also saw record monthly lows. Coal accounted for 12.4 per cent of Germany's electricity mix and 42.9 per cent of Poland's.

Spain, nearing a full phase-out of coal, generated just 0.6 per cent 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 per cent from last year, driven by a 19 per cent increase in gas generation to offset weak hydro and wind output earlier in the year.

Electricity demand in the EU rose 2.2 per cent 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.

Principal Economist at the Canadian Climate Institute Dave Sawyer said that the news about solar power continues a trend he's been seeing — a reduced reliance on gas due to prices going through the roof, while at the same time, the price of solar falling.

"It's really interesting to see what's going on in Europe," he told CBC News on Friday. "Batteries paired with solar, with the cheapness of that technology, is really driving the sort of penetration of solar into the system."

In Canada, unlike the EU, solar only makes up about one per cent of electricity generation. But that's changing, Sawyer says.

"Although solar has a small share, it's growing way faster than any other generating source in the country," he said.

"We're seeing growth rates in solar, year over year, of about 13 per cent in the last decade."

The other big difference is Canada's bountiful hydropower — about 56 per cent of electricity generated, Sawyer said. Canada and the EU are similar when looking at nuclear, with 16 per cent to 21 per cent respectively. Wind also makes up 10 per cent in Canada, and 16 per cent in the EU.

Sawyer also mentioned that Canada is working on battery storage capacity. He says with more electrification — such as heat pumps, and EVs — we're going to need a cheap, affordable way to power them.

"Frankly, we need the politics to be toned down, and we need to look at these things … in a reasonable fashion and build out what really produces cheap, reliable electricity for everybody."