Speaking during the Storage, Renewable and Electric Vehicles Integration Forum Second Edition, hosted by Strategic Energy Europe in partnership with Mobility Portal Europe, Arthur Daemers, Senior Policy Advisor at SolarPower Europe, issued a warning about the deceleration of solar deployment in the European Union.
In 2024, Europe installed a record 65 GW of new solar capacity, bringing the cumulative total to 330 GW.
However, Daemers highlighted a significant slowdown in the growth rate: SFrom 2020 to 2023, we saw annual increases of 40 to 55%.
Now we"re down to 4%.
That"s a clear plateau.
This shift is not entirely unexpected, as earlier growth was fuelled by a mix of support schemes, falling module prices, and the energy crisis.
Yet, the current pace threatens the EU"s ability to meet its solar goals under REPowerEU, which aims for 750 GW by 2030. Daemers stressed: SWe should be installing 70 GW per year to stay on track.
We"re close, but not quite there.
And many obstacles remain. https://www.youtube.com/live/6viQvFjYKGg?feature=shared&t=1587
The second major event of the year from Strategic Energy Corp was a two-part virtual session, co-organised with Mobility Portal Europe and Strategic Energy Europe.
Strategic Energy Corp, in partnership with the Future Energy Summit (FES), is behind some of the sector"s most relevant events, as FES positions itself as the leading platform for renewable energy dialogue in Spanish-speaking countries.
The third edition of FES Iberia 2025 will take place on June 24, at the Colegio de Caminos (Betancourt Auditorium, C. de Almagro, 42, Chamberí, Madrid). (Watch the previous edition here).
Bottlenecks in electrification and system flexibilityDespite increasing utility-scale deployment now comprising nearly half of all installations Daemers highlighted that Sthe electricity system is not catching up with the pace of solar deployment.
The market is facing multiple constraints. Grid congestion, frequent negative electricity prices, and stagnant demand for electrification are eroding investor confidence.
SPrices are more stable now, but regulatory uncertainty still holds back crucial investments," Daemers noted.
For SolarPower Europe, electrification is not moving fast enough.
SWe need to help industries, transport, and heating decarbonise through electrification.
And for the sectors where this isn"t viable, renewable hydrogen must fill the gap, he explained.
Storage must scale by 10x to match solar rolloutFlexibility is a critical issue.
Daemers warned that without a dramatic increase in energy storage, grid stability and solar uptake will be compromised.
SWe currently have around 60 GWh of battery storage.
We need to get to 600 GWh this decade.
That"s a tenfold increase, he asserted.
He called for an EU-wide battery target, tailored support schemes, and revised market regulations allowing revenue stacking across multiple energy markets.
SA battery should be able to offer services in every part of the system and be paid accordingly," Daemers said.
He also argued against protectionist approaches that exclude market participation.
SWe"re not asking for handouts.
But the system must recognise the full value energy storage provides, he insisted.
Manufacturing leadership under the Net Zero Industry ActSolarPower Europe also expressed concern about Europe"s weak industrial footprint in solar manufacturing.
While the continent retains some strength in inverter production, it lacks sufficient capacity for module manufacturing.
The Net Zero Industry Act proposes that 30 GW of annual installations come from European sources a target still far off.
SWe need auction mechanisms that reward European-made panels and diversify supply chains," Daemers stated.
SBut if we don"t have factories in Europe, those incentives won"t work.
He called for dedicated funding to support both scale-up and operational costs, such as energy-intensive manufacturing.
SWe still lead in upcoming technologies, like perovskites.
But we must scale them now, or we risk losing that lead too, he concluded.