Solar power systems supplied by the EU

How much solar energy does the EU generate?

In 2024, 46.9% of the electricity generated in the EU came from renewables and 22.% of it came from solar energy (Eurostat, March 2025). The EU solar generation capacity keeps increasing and reached, according to SolarPower Europe, an estimated 338 GW in 2024. The EU has long been a front-runner in the roll-out of solar energy.

Is solar a good source of energy in the EU?

Solar is the fastest growing energy source in the EU and is cheap, clean and flexible. The cost of solar power decreased by 82% between 2010-2020, making it the most competitive source of electricity in many parts of the EU.

How can the EU boost solar energy?

EU measures to boost solar energy include making the installation of solar panels on the rooftops of new buildings obligatory within a specific timeframe, streamlining permitting procedures for renewable energy projects, improving the skills base in the solar sector and boosting the EU's capacity to manufacture photovoltaic panels.

What is the EU doing with solar energy?

The EU funds many solar cell projects, such as the PERTPV project, in which perovskite-based materials were used to build a new type of solar cell. Photovoltaic technology is becoming more widely used worldwide. Year after year, photovoltaics make up a bigger share of the EU’s energy mix.

Which EU instruments can support the roll-out of solar energy?

According to the European Commission, the EU instruments that can support the roll-out of solar energy are: the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the cohesion policy funds, InvestEU, the Innovation Fund, the Modernisation Fund, Horizon Europe, the LIFE programme, Connecting Europe Facility and the EU renewable energy financing mechanism.

Who is Solarpower Europe?

Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe (she/her) said: “SolarPower Europe has represented the full European solar value chain for 40 years. From 50 MW of solar globally in 1985, to 350 GW alone in the EU last year, we are so proud to be powering the equivalent of 75 million EU households today.