France’s Solar Power Outperforms; Leaves Other Utilities in the Shade

Sunshine brought more than spring flowers to France in early April. Panels across the country pushed solar output to new highs of more than 4,000 megawatts, grid data show.

That surge in a nation more dependent than any other on nuclear power illustrates the fundamental change taking hold across Europe’s energy industry. It also signals more pain to come for traditional utilities in the region like Electricite de France SA and EON SE in Germany.

“This is the biggest revolution since the nuclear reactors were built in the 1970s,” said Josef Pospisil, an analyst at Fitch Ratings in London. “There ...