Heat wave "boosts" solar energy - EU solar plants generated record amounts in June
The recent heat wave in Europe significantly increased energy demand, especially due to the use of air conditioners. Solar sources played a key role in meeting the grid load, generating record amounts of energy in June.
The recent heatwave in Europe increased daily energy demand by up to 14 percent, as Europeans turned on their air conditioners to stay cool.
But the sunshine also boosted the availability of solar power, according to energy think tank Ember. Renewables have helped Europe's power grids withstand the "load test" caused by the extreme heat.
Between June 28 and July 2, daily maximum temperatures averaged 35°C in Germany and Spain, with some local temperatures exceeding 40°C.
As a result of the increased use of air conditioners, daily energy demand rose by up to 14 percent in Spain, 9 percent in France and 6 percent in Germany, compared to the previous week.
"Despite the great pressure, European networks passed the stress test and solar energy played a major role in their operation," Ember analysts emphasized.
June 2025 marked the highest solar power production ever recorded in the EU, at 45 terawatt hours (TWh), a 22% increase from the previous year. This supplied the grid with cheap, clean electricity during daylight hours.
On peak heat days, solar power produced up to 50 gigawatts (GW) of energy in Germany, generating 33-39% of the country's total.
In contrast, nuclear power plants struggled during this period. In France, 17 of the 18 nuclear power plants faced capacity reductions during the heat wave. Some of them were shut down completely due to high river temperatures, as their waters could not be used as usual to cool the reactors.
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