The European Union's share of electricity generated from renewable sources reached approximately 46% [1], according to recent data.
This increase reflects the bloc's ongoing transition toward sustainable energy and its efforts to reduce reliance on traditional power sources. The shift is critical for meeting long-term climate targets and ensuring regional energy security.
Eurostat said renewables generated 45.5% [3] of the EU’s electricity in the first quarter of 2026, which is an increase from 44% [3] during the same period a year earlier. Denmark, Portugal, and Lithuania are the leading member states in this transition [1].
Portugal showed strong results in the early part of the year. The Portuguese Association for Renewable Energies (APREN) said renewable electricity accounted for 80.7% [4] of Portugal's total generation in January 2026.
Solar power contributed significantly to these gains. EU solar generation reached 58.8 TWh [3] in the first quarter of 2026, compared to 55.3 TWh [3] in the first quarter of 2025.
An Euronews correspondent said Denmark, Portugal, and Lithuania are leading the EU’s renewable electricity transition [1]. These nations have integrated a mix of wind, solar, and hydroelectric power to achieve high percentages of green energy in their national grids.
“Renewables generated 45.5% of the EU’s electricity in the first quarter of 2026.”
The steady climb toward a 46% renewable share indicates that the EU is successfully scaling its green infrastructure. The significant spike in Portugal's January generation demonstrates how seasonal weather patterns and diversified renewable portfolios—combining wind, solar, and hydro—can allow individual member states to briefly operate almost entirely on clean energy.
