EU solar power capacity soars in 2022; trend set to continue

The European Union added a record-breaking 41.4 GW of solar power in 2022, up by 47 per cent from 28.1 GW in 2021. This is according to a new report from Solar Power Europe.

In the face of an unprecedented energy crisis and heightened energy security concerns, EU total solar power capacity grew by a mammoth 25 per cent in just one year – from 167.5 GW to 208.9 GW in 2022.

Germany remained Europe’s biggest solar market in 2022 with 7.9 GW of newly installed capacity, followed by Spain (7.5 GW), Poland (4.9 GW), the Netherlands (4.0 GW), and France (2.7 GW). While the top five EU markets stayed the same, Portugal and Sweden have entered the top 10, knocking out Hungary and Austria.

For the first time, all top 10 markets are also GW-scale markets. In 2022, 26 out of 27 EU Member States deployed more solar than the year before.

The report predicts the addition of 53.6 GW solar power in the EU for 2023 as the ‘most-likely’ pathway, leading to at least 85 GW of new solar per year by 2026. This means the EU solar market is set to more than double within four years and reach 484 GW by 2026.

The International Energy Agency recommends that the EU install around 60 GW of solar power in 2023 to compensate for shortfalls in Russian gas supply. With rapid and targeted support, solar power could fill the gap, reaching up to 67.8 GW of installations in 2023 in a high scenario.

“Solar is offering Europe a lifeline amid energy and climate crises,” SolarPower Europe CEO Walburga Hemetsberger said. “No other energy source is growing as quickly, or reliably, as solar. We’re building a secure, green, prosperous Europe.”

The European policy director Dries Acke added: “It’s more than high time to take solar seriously. That means tackling barriers head on. We need more electricians and stable electricity market regulation. A solar-powered Europe can only be based on smoother administrative processes, speedier grid connections, and resilient supply chains.”

There are now ten EU countries that are adding at least 1 GW of solar per year. Germany topped the league tables, adding almost 8 GW in 2022, followed by Spain (7.5 GW), Poland (4.9 GW), the Netherlands (4.0 GW), and France (2.7 GW).