The Sun Takes the Lead in the EU - and in Local Energy Plans

In June, solar energy became the largest source of electricity in the EU. This is shown by new figures from the think tank Ember, which closely monitors the development of the European electricity supply. According to the analysis, the sun covered 18 percent of electricity consumption in June - thus surpassing coal, gas, wind, and nuclear power.

It is the first time ever that solar is at the top of the European electricity statistics.

However, the development has been underway for a long time. Especially in Denmark, where solar installations increasingly dominate municipal energy planning. An insight from the Danish Energy Agency shows that in the first quarter of 2025 alone, local plans for over 5,400 megawatts of solar energy were adopted. This is 15 times as much as for onshore wind in the same period.

Local trend

The trend is particularly evident in the municipalities of Lolland, Guldborgsund, and Vordingborg. Here, there are eight active solar projects with approved local plans - but not a single one with wind turbines. In 2024, not a single new wind turbine was erected in the three municipalities either.

The analysis from Ember covers only a single month - June. Looking at the whole of 2024, the picture is different. According to Ember Climate's annual report and data from ENTSO-E, wind accounted for about 18-19 percent of the EU's total electricity production, while nuclear power topped with around 21 percent. Gas covered 17-18 percent, coal was at 12-13 percent, and solar energy accounted for 9-10 percent. This makes the sun's first place in June 2025 a significant, but seasonal milestone in the European energy supply.

13 countries set records for solar energy production in June. However, not Denmark, whose record dates back to June 2023.

Solar wins everything - wind disappears in municipalities' plans

An insight shows that the country's municipalities are planning 15 times as much solar energy as onshore wind. In the municipalities of Lolland, Guldborgsund, and Vordingborg, there are no new wind projects at all. A professor warns against an unbalanced and economically uncertain development.