Solar Surpasses All as Europe's Top Energy Source

Solar Surpasses All as Europe’s Top Energy Source

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Solar panels along with a neighborhood and lower Manhattan view from the rooftop of Timber House, New York’s first mass-timber condominium in Brooklyn’s Park Slope, on August 16, 2022. — Reuters

PARIS: New research indicates that solar energy has taken the lead as the primary source of electricity in Europe for the first time.

A report from Ember, a UK-based energy think tank, reveals that solar panels produced more electricity than any other source in the European Union during June, contributing 22.1 percent to the overall energy mix.

This surpasses nuclear power, which made up 21.8 percent, and wind energy at 15.8 percent, as stated by the British organization. Natural gas provided 14.4 percent, while hydropower accounted for 12.8 percent.

Ember reported that at least 13 countries achieved new national records in solar power generation.

Wind energy also reached a new high across Europe, and coal’s contribution to the continent’s electricity output fell to a historic low of 6.1 percent, down from 8.8 percent in 2024.

However, electricity demand increased, with coal usage in the first half of 2025 still surpassing levels from the same period in 2024. Overall, electricity demand rose by more than two percent compared to last year in the first six months.