Solar’s share of EU electricity demand tops 20% for three consecutive months

<p>Solar’s share of electricity demand across the 27 EU member states exceeded 20% for the first time for three consecutive months, according to data from the Energy-Charts platform compiled by Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE.</p>

<p>Energy-Charts calculated a share of 20.3% for May, 21.1% for June and 21.5% for July. As July has not yet fully ended, there may still be marginal changes, but the analysts say this will not affect the record.</p>

<p>During the same period last year, solar&#8217;s share of EU electricity demand ranged between 17.3% and 18.8%.</p>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="" class="wp-image-142053" height="506" src="https://www.pv-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-13.31.07-1024x506.png" width="1024" /></figure>

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Records for Germany, Switzerland, Austria</h2>

<p>Country-level data reveals a series of new records. In Germany, the solar share of electricity demand exceeded 30% for the first time and remained above this level for three consecutive months. Fraunhofer researchers recorded a share of 30.3% in May, 30.4% in June and a preliminary 31.6% in July. July marks a significant increase compared with the previous year, when weather conditions limited photovoltaics to a 22.6% share of electricity demand.</p>

<p>In Switzerland, the 25% threshold was exceeded and maintained for the first time over a three-month period. Energy-Charts reported a solar share of 25.8% in May, 25.3% in June and 26.5% in July. During the same months last year, solar accounted for between 19.1% and 21.8% of electricity demand.</p>

<p>Austria also set new records, achieving a record photovoltaic share of 23.3% of electricity demand in May. In June, the figure was 22.5%, while Energy-Charts reported 21.9% for July. All three values exceeded the previous record of 20.3% set in June 2025, which was the first time Austria surpassed the 20% threshold.</p>

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Baltic states lead EU solar shares</h2>

<p>Latvia posted the highest solar share recorded in the EU, with photovoltaics accounting for 49% of electricity demand in June. Its Baltic neighbours, Lithuania and Estonia, also recorded strong figures, reaching 44.7% and 35.8%, respectively, in June.</p>

<p>The increase in Latvia is particularly striking. The country’s solar share was already 34.9% in April and rose to 40% in May. For July, Energy-Charts expects the figure to reach 38.9%. By comparison, values during the same period last year ranged between 13.7% and 18.9%.</p>

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">High shares in Spain, Greece, Bulgaria</h2>

<p>In Spain, the photovoltaic share of electricity demand remained consistently above 35% for the first time over the three-month period. The highest value was recorded in June, when solar accounted for 36.9% of electricity demand. Solar&#8217;s share was more than five percentage points higher than during the same period last year.</p>

<p>Similar figures were seen in Greece, where the solar share remained above 35% from May to July, representing an increase of more than seven percentage points compared with the same period last year.</p>

<p>In Bulgaria, meanwhile, solar shares – like in Germany – also exceeded 30% between May and July.</p>

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">France, Italy remain below EU average</h2>

<p>France also posted gains, continuing a rise of around two percentage points compared with the same periods in the previous year. However, the figures remain below EU averages. Solar reached its highest-ever share of electricity demand in July, at 14.6%. In June, the figure was 13.6%, while in May it was 12.6%, matching the previous record set in July 2025.</p>

<p>Like France, Italy also remained below the EU average. According to Energy-Charts data, Italy recorded its highest-ever solar share of electricity demand in May, at 19.5%. In July, however, the figure fell to just 16.7%, while June reached 18.5%.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/31/solars-share-of-eu-electricity-demand-tops-20-for-three-consecutive-months/">Solar&#8217;s share of EU electricity demand tops 20% for three consecutive months</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com">pv magazine Global</a>.</p>