German renewables hit record 58% share in H1 2026

Wind and solar reached 58% of German power consumption across H1 2026, the highest half-year share on record. The figure covers January through June and is consistent across Reuters and Renews.biz reporting published 1 July. No single-technology breakdown has been published yet.

In France, a late-June heatwave exposed a different performance story. River-cooled nuclear reactors cut output as the Rhône, Garonne, and Seine approached their regulatory thermal limits, according to WSP analysis published by pv magazine. France's afternoon export surplus, typically 11–12 GW in summer, compressed to under 3 GW within days. Monthly export totals remained near normal, masking how sharply the intraday cushion thinned. Neighbouring bidding zones that rely on French mid-afternoon flows for price suppression would have absorbed the shortfall directly.

In Italy, Terna's May 2026 monthly report shows renewables at 52.8% of national demand, with industrial consumption posting continued growth. No comparison figure for May 2025 was included in the headline data.