New data from solar subscription company Sunsave reveals significant disparities in household solar panel adoption across Western Europe.
A new ranking by UK-based Sunsave has highlighted the countries in Western Europe making the strongest push toward residential solar power. Based on the latest government and industry figures as of March 27, 2025, the analysis reveals that the Netherlands is the clear frontrunner — with 34.2% of homes now fitted with solar panels. This is more than triple the penetration seen in Germany, which ranks second at 9.8%.
Percentage of Solar-Equipped Homes by Country
The chart below shows the percentage of homes with solar panels across ten Western European nations. The Netherlands’ leadership is evident, with over one-third of households participating in solar energy generation.
As illustrated above, countries such as Italy (6.1%), the UK (5.3%), and Sweden (4.6%) follow behind the frontrunners, showing moderate but growing uptake. The remaining countries, including France, Switzerland, and Norway, are yet to surpass the 2% mark.
Total Homes with Solar Panels (in Millions)
When looking at absolute figures, Germany emerges as the leader with over 4 million solar-powered homes, despite a lower penetration rate than the Netherlands. This is followed by the Netherlands itself with 2.87 million, and Italy with 1.59 million.
This distinction between percentage and absolute numbers emphasizes the impact of population size and housing stock on solar deployment. The Netherlands’ compact size coupled with aggressive government incentives has led to both high adoption and notable volume.
Incentives Drive Adoption
The report attributes success in the top-ranking countries to strong policy support:
- Netherlands: Net metering (salderingsregeling) since 2004 and the ISDE subsidy have made solar highly attractive.
- Germany: The Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) ensures fixed payments for solar energy, supported by additional regional grants.
- Italy: The Superbonus scheme, offering up to 110% tax credits in its original form and now a 50% incentive, boosted installations significantly.
In contrast, the UK lacks a comprehensive net metering program. The Smart Export Guarantee, introduced in 2020, provides some returns, but limited government grants and high upfront costs remain barriers.
On the findings, Alick Dru co-founder at Sunsave, states: “Comparing European figures for domestic solar uptake is eye opening. It really highlights the countries that are making an active effort to help homeowners turn to renewables and save on their energy bills.
It’s particularly encouraging to see how enthusiastically The Netherlands have embraced solar panels. Despite having a climate that’s so similar to the UK’s, people there have switched to the technology in their droves.
The UK’s electricity consumption is expected to more than double by 2050, which means electricity bills are going to become even more expensive. Solar is the answer, and we believe our solar subscription is going to unlock savings for millions of homes.”
Full Country Rankings
| Rank | Country | % with Solar | Solar Homes | Total Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | 34.2% | 2,875,487 | 8,400,000 |
| 2 | Germany | 9.8% | 4,031,722 | 41,300,000 |
| 3 | Italy | 6.1% | 1,587,569 | 26,200,000 |
| 4 | UK | 5.3% | 1,505,987 | 28,400,000 |
| 5 | Sweden | 4.6% | 228,262 | 4,971,975 |
| 6 | Spain | 2.2% | 410,320 | 18,754,800 |
| 7 | Ireland | 2% | 35,603 | 1,800,000 |
| 8 | France | 1.4% | 426,769 | 29,856,200 |
| 9 | Switzerland | 1.3% | 50,835 | 4,000,000 |
| 10 | Norway | 1% | 25,907 | 2,617,268 |
(Source: Sunsave, government and industry data, March 2025)
To read the full research and insights, visit Sunsave
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