Solar overtakes wind as EU’s top renewable source

Renewable energy sources accounted for 54.1% of all electricity generated in the European Union during the second quarter of 2026, according to data published by Eurostat on Friday. The figure marks a slight dip from the 54.3% recorded in the same period a year earlier, but underscores the bloc's continued shift away from fossil fuels.europa+1

Solar Takes the Lead

Solar power emerged as the EU's top renewable electricity source for the quarter, making up 41.6% of total renewable generation — up from 37% in Q2 2025. The gain reflects Europe's rapid buildout of photovoltaic capacity in recent years. Wind power followed at 27.7%, with hydropower at 22.6%. Combustible renewable fuels such as biomass contributed 7.7%, while geothermal and other sources accounted for 0.4%.sofiaglobe+1

The seasonal shift from Q1 was notable. In the first three months of 2026, renewables supplied 45.5% of EU electricity, with wind dominant at 44.9% of the renewable mix and solar contributing just 17.3%. Longer daylight hours in spring and summer reversed that order.francescomacri.wordpress

Wide Gaps Among Member States

The EU average masks stark national differences. Latvia led all member states at 97.7%, powered largely by hydropower and solar, followed by Denmark at 94.3% — driven mostly by wind — and Croatia at 92.2%, relying heavily on hydropower. At the other end, Slovakia recorded just 19.8%, the Czech Republic 20.9%, and Malta 24.5%.brusselstimes+2

Cyprus, which is not connected to the continental European grid, saw renewables account for 36.8% of its net electricity generation in June 2026, up from 34.66% in April, before dropping to about 30% in July.thenationalherald

Broader Trajectory

Eurostat noted that these figures refer to the share of renewables in net electricity generation, which differs from the methodology used to track EU Renewable Energy Directive targets based on gross electricity consumption. For all of 2025, renewable electricity accounted for 49.9% of electricity consumed in the EU, up from 47.5% in 2024. The Q2 2026 data suggest the bloc is sustaining that upward trajectory, even as quarter-to-quarter comparisons show the pace of gains has leveled off.europa+1