Solar energy has allowed the European Union to avoid more than €40 billion in gas imports since the start of the war in the Middle East, according to a new assessment by SolarPower Europe, which highlights the growing importance of renewables in the continent's energy security.
Between March 1 and October 15, 2026, photovoltaic generation displaced some of the electricity that would otherwise have required natural gas-fired power plants. This contribution allowed the European Union to reduce its reliance on imported fuels in a context of high international price volatility.
However, the organization warns that the savings achieved are not enough to structurally protect Europe from future energy crises. Seven months after the start of the conflict, dependence on fossil fuels continues to pose a risk to households, industries, and the region's economic competitiveness.
The diagnosis comes after two major episodes of energy instability: the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East during 2026. For the association, these events demonstrate that extraordinary fluctuations in fossil fuel prices are no longer isolated incidents but have become a recurring challenge.
SolarPower Europe calls for urgent action: batteries at the heart of the strategy
Faced with this scenario, SolarPower Europe urged the European Union to implement an emergency package that accelerates the deployment of renewable generation, storage and electrification, with measures capable of starting to generate benefits within the next twelve months.
One of the central aspects of the proposal is the expansion of energy storage using large-scale batteries (BESS), considered fundamental to reducing the influence of natural gas on the formation of wholesale electricity prices.
Currently, although solar energy can displace thermal generation during peak production hours, the need to resort to gas-fired power plants at other times of the day keeps the electricity market exposed to international variations in the price of this fuel.
In this context, the association argues that accelerating the installation of batteries would allow for a greater proportion of available renewable electricity to be used, shifting solar surpluses to periods of higher demand and reducing the frequency with which gas-fired power plants determine the price of electricity.
The second priority aims to strengthen electrification behind the meter, distributed solar generation and self-consumption.
The goal is for households and businesses to be able to produce and consume an increasing proportion of their own electricity, reducing their need for external supply and their exposure to fluctuations in energy markets.
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According to the organization, these measures would not only help reduce Europe's fossil fuel bill, but also improve economic resilience to future geopolitical tensions.
From €20 billion in July to more than €40 billion in October
The evolution of savings recorded during the last few months reflects the importance that photovoltaic generation has acquired within the European electricity system.
In July, SolarPower Europe estimated that solar power generation had saved €20 billion in gas imports since the start of the conflict. Subsequently, the September figures raised that amount to over €30 billion, and it now exceeds €40 billion. This increase occurred against a backdrop of higher photovoltaic generation during the European summer and rising fossil fuel prices, factors that enhanced the economic benefits of replacing gas-fired electricity.
In fact, during June 2026, solar energy became the largest single source of electricity generation in the European Union, with a 25% share, according to data previously released by the association.
However, the organization insists that this contribution must translate into long-term policies that allow for a permanent reduction in external energy dependence.
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, highlighted that the €40 billion represents a bill that Europe managed to avoid thanks to its installed solar capacity.
The executive argued that local renewable generation once again proved its value during a period of geopolitical uncertainty, although she warned that households and businesses are still bearing the brunt of fossil fuel volatility.
In that regard, he argued that the European Union has tools to definitively protect consumers from a structural vulnerability that can no longer be ignored.
The proposal also introduces a crucial issue for the future of the European electricity market: increasing installed renewable capacity will not be enough if the system does not simultaneously develop flexibility solutions capable of harnessing that generation when it is most needed.
Therefore, the solar sector is demanding that Brussels move forward with immediate decisions that will turn the savings generated by renewables into a sustained reduction in dependence on gas.
The challenge for Europe is no longer just to produce more solar electricity, but to store and use that energy more efficiently to permanently reduce its fossil fuel bill.