The ‘medium scenario’ forecast for Europe’s solar market sees 53.6GW installed in 2023. Image: SolarPower Europe.
Looking forward, SolarPower Europe said it expects 2023 to see over 50GW of solar PV installed across EU member states, according to its average ‘most likely’ pathway. This would lead to at least 85GW of solar capacity added annually by 2026. SolarPower Europe’s ‘low scenario’ sees 66GW of solar capacity installed annually by 2026, whilst its ‘high scenario’ sees almost 120GW of solar come online a year in the second half of the decade.
Its market report outlined five key points to ensure continuous, stable growth in the EU’s solar market. It specified growing the solar workforce, maintaining regulatory stability and investor certainty, enabling smoother integration with solar PV and the grid, improved spatial planning and permitting procedures and ensuring a stable and reliable PV supply chain.
Whilst installations have been booming, recent calls have mounted to build out Europe’s PV manufacturing base, as its reliance on Chinese imports becomes more starkly problematic. PV Tech analysed this mounting pressure and the need for domestic manufacturing in a recent blog.
Last week, the European Solar PV Industry Alliance was launched, with the aim of boosting the bloc’s manufacturing capabilities to 30GW by 2050. Prior to the alliance’s launch, representative body the European Solar Manufacturing Council called for a funding and support package in line with the US’ Inflation Reduction Act to act as a catalyst for a European manufacturing base.
