UK and France break new solar generation records

Europe’s solar capacity continues to impress, with new generation records set in both the UK and France this July – supplying nearly 40% of each country’s electricity demand at peak times.

This summer has brought a surge of sunshine – and with it, a new wave of solar energy records across Europe. On Tuesday 8 July, the UK reached a new peak solar generation record of 14GW at 12:30pm, supplying 39% of electricity demand at that moment, according to the University of Sheffield’s PV Live platform. The previous UK record of 13.8GW, set earlier in April, has now officially been surpassed.

France, too, saw record-breaking output on the same day. At 2pm, solar generation hit 19.5GW, briefly driving energy prices below zero and covering nearly 40% of demand. This level of solar output reflects the rapid growth and maturity of renewable generation across the continent.

Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK, noted: “We estimate that well over 21.5 gigawatts of capacity is now in place in the UK – a figure expected to more than double by the end of the decade.”

At Elements Green, we see this as further confirmation that solar energy is not only vital for climate goals, but a practical and cost-effective pillar of energy security. As developers of major solar and energy storage infrastructure across Europe and Australia, we are proud to help accelerate this clean energy transition – one record at a time.

Information cited from:
British and French solar generation hit new records – Solar Energy UK, 10 July 2025