Renewable sources generated 54.1% of electricity across the European Union in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 54.3% in the same period of 2025. Solar power increased its weight within the EU electricity mix during the quarter. The overall renewable share stayed broadly unchanged year on year.
EU generation split and technology shares
Within renewable generation, solar accounted for 41.6%, rising from 37% a year earlier. Wind supplied 27.7%, hydropower provided 22.6%, and combustible renewable fuels contributed 7.7%. Geothermal and other technologies made up the remaining 0.4%.
The data indicate that additions to solar capacity are shifting the composition of renewable output more quickly than the overall clean electricity share is rising. The change also increases the operational gap between daytime periods dominated by solar production and evening hours. This pattern raises the need for storage, demand response, and stronger cross-border networks.
Country-level renewable penetration
Renewable penetration varied across EU member states in the quarter. Latvia recorded the highest share at 97.7%, followed by Denmark at 94.3% and Croatia at 92.2%. Hydropower supported the high shares in Latvia and Croatia, while wind remained dominant in Denmark.
At the lower end of the market, renewables accounted for 19.8% of electricity generation in Slovakia, 20.9% in Czechia, and 24.5% in Malta.
Implications for power market operations
The EU is producing more than half its electricity from renewable sources based on the quarter’s figures. With solar making up a larger portion of renewables, management requirements shift toward handling more concentrated solar output. The focus is on avoiding deeper midday price declines and evening price spikes as solar output strengthens.
