Europe is on track to surpass its previous solar power output records this year, with the first quarter (Q1) showing a 32% increase in solar electricity generation compared to the same period in 2024.
Solar electricity generation in the region reached nearly 68 terawatt-hours (TWh) in the first three months of 2025, reported Reuters, citing data from energy think tank Ember.
This surge in production has raised solar’s contribution to 8.2% of Europe’s utility-supplied electricity last month, up from 6% the previous year.
The production increase also indicates that solar is becoming an increasingly important part of the region’s energy mix, even during colder months.
The rise in solar power is part of Europe’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and shift towards clean energy, which accounted for a record 61.3% of the continent’s electricity last year.
However, the clean energy share dropped to 57% in Q1 2025 due to lower wind speeds affecting turbine output, which fell by 15% from the previous year.
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By GlobalDataUtilities have increased output from gas and coal plants to maintain the supply of electricity, but this is expected to change as solar farms enter their peak production period and power demand for heating decreases, the report said.
Historically, Germany and Spain dominated Europe’s solar capacity, but recent cost reductions and efficiency improvements have led to a more widespread adoption across the continent.
Several countries outpaced the regional average solar output growth in the first quarter of 2025, with Turkey, the Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland all seeing significant increases.
Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, and Spain each achieved solar electricity shares of more than 10% in the same period.
During the summer months, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain are expected to generate more than 25% of their electricity from solar, potentially raising Europe’s average to around 14%.
Italy, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Turkey are also projected to reach double-digit solar electricity shares, the report added.
In addition to solar advancements, the European wind sector has proposed an initiative to boost offshore wind energy production, calling for a minimum of 100GW in new offshore capacity tenders between 2031 and 2040.
The industry advocates for two-sided contracts for difference (CfDs) to lower risks and enhance investment certainty.
