While Spain may have had a disappointing exit from the World Cup, the country is winning in a different arena entirely — clean energy. Spain, France, Germany, and Italy all broke their own records for solar power production during the first half of 2026, according to new analysis from AleaSoft Energy Forecasting.
Spain and France saw the biggest jumps, with solar energy production climbing 16% compared to the same period last year. These aren't just small improvements — they represent all-time records for a six-month period in each country. Germany and Italy also hit new highs, showing that solar power is spreading fast across Europe.
Wind energy is getting stronger too. Italy led the way with a 17% increase in wind power, followed closely by France and Germany. France, Italy, and Portugal all set new records for wind production over a half-year period.
Here's something that might surprise you: despite all this clean energy growth, electricity prices actually dropped in Spain and Portugal. Prices fell 28% in Spain and 29% in Portugal, while much of the rest of Europe saw prices rise. Why? Because these two countries have been building more solar and wind farms, which means less reliance on expensive fossil gas. The data shows that people wanting lower electricity bills should look to solar and wind as the answer.
Portugal ended up with the cheapest electricity in Europe at just €48.77 per megawatt-hour. Spain wasn't far behind at €49.83. Meanwhile, Italy had the highest prices at €127.18 per megawatt-hour — more than double what people pay in Portugal.
The report notes that higher gas prices — driven by tensions between the United States and Iran and low gas storage levels — pushed electricity costs up in most markets. Fossil fuels remain expensive and unpredictable, while solar and wind keep getting cheaper and more reliable.
The message is becoming clearer: countries that invest in solar and wind energy are rewarded with cleaner power and lower bills. As more nations race to break their own clean energy records, Spain and Portugal are showing the rest of the world what's possible when you bet on the sun and wind.