Central Europe is expanding solar power at a rate far faster than the European Union (EU) average, reshaping its energy landscape. A new Ember report shows the region’s generation has multiplied nearly 6-fold since 2019, offering a model for clean energy progress on the continent. 

“Once heavily dependent on coal, Central European countries are seeing their energy identity reshaped by a rapid solar surge,” reads the Ember report titled Turning to the sun: Solar rise in Central Europe.  

From 5 TWh in 2019, the Central European region grew to 29 TWh cumulative solar generation by 2024, with a major growth spurt seen in Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. In comparison, the EU saw only a 2.5-fold increase from 125 TWh to 308 TWh. 

Calling Hungary a global leader, Ember says the country generated nearly a quarter of its electricity from solar in 2024, up from only 4% in 2019. It peaked at a record 42% in June this year. However, the replacement of a favorable net metering scheme by the net billing scheme led to a downturn in the residential segment. The utility-scale segment is also facing stagnation since no new grid connection permits have been issued in the last 2 years, points out Ember.  

On the other hand, Poland’s output increased over 20-fold from 0.7 TWh to 15 TWh as its prosumers count exceeded 1.5 million by mid-2025. Czechia has returned to GW-scale additions after years of stagnation, as it added 1 GW of new PV capacity in 2023, making it the 1st year of GW-scale additions since 2010. Its solar generation also reached 14.7% of electricity in June 2025. 

Slovakia has started accelerating installations after longstanding policy barriers eased, including the 8-year grid moratorium that remained in force from December 2013 to April 2021. The country added 274 MW of solar in 2024. 

Together, these countries show how supportive policies, falling costs, and public participation can drive a rapid shift to clean energy, according to the report writers.  

Additionally, Hungary and Poland are among the top battery exporters in the world. Poland, too, is catching up with one of the largest grid-scale battery project pipelines in the EU. 

Yet, it is not the time to become complacent, as their national plans for 2030 have renewable energy targets well below the EU average. Going forward, Ember analysts stress that Central European nations will need to match their solar growth with grid flexibility and storage. 

“Central Europe demonstrates that coal-dependent nations can change course and achieve notable renewable gains. With the right policies, the region could turn this momentum into a competitive edge and even surpass its Western neighbors in clean energy deployment,” said Ember’s Policy Advisor, Tatiana Mindeková.  

The complete report is available on Ember’s website for free download.