Solar is having its best summer yet in Europe

Solar had its strongest stretch yet in Europe this summer. In June, it became the European Union's single biggest source of electricity, supplying a record 25% of the region's power. Spain and Germany each got more than a third of their electricity from solar that month, and Hungary topped 45%. Five years ago, solar provided only about 10% of EU power even at its sunniest peak, so this marks a fast rise.

Much of that growth traces back to 2022, when Russia's invasion of Ukraine disrupted Europe's gas supply and pushed countries to build out solar and other clean energy faster than planned. The shift has paid off in cleaner air too: carbon dioxide emissions from the EU's electricity sector dropped nearly 20% between 2020 and 2025 as solar displaced coal and natural gas.

Analysts expect this trend to keep speeding up. The recent conflict involving Iran has driven fossil fuel prices higher again, and EU officials are responding by pushing harder into renewables. The bloc's energy chief recently introduced a plan aimed at doubling the EU's rate of electrification by 2040.

None of this changes anything directly for a homeowner outside Europe, but it's a sign of where energy costs and technology are heading. As solar keeps getting cheaper and more common on grids overseas, it adds to the broader case for rooftop solar and electrification upgrades becoming more affordable and more common everywhere, including in the US.