Europe's Solar+ Month in Review

The Summit highlighted how a renewable-first system can cut costs, strengthen strategic independence and accelerate electrification across the economy. That message was reinforced by high-level contributions from European leaders, including a video message from European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen and interventions from EU Commissioners Dan Jørgensen and Wopke Hoekstra. Our new Solar+ report further underlined the opportunity ahead, showing that by 2030 Europe can reduce system costs and strengthen energy security through faster deployment of solar, storage and flexibility.

Since 1 March, Europe’s solar fleet has helped avoid more than €11 billion in fossil fuel import costs, offering a clear demonstration of what a renewable-first energy system can achieve in times of volatility. Those savings are equivalent to Belgium’s recent annual defence budgets – and they represent only a fraction of what is possible if Europe moves faster. By deploying more solar, scaling storage and accelerating electrification, we can reduce the role of gas in setting electricity prices, strengthen Europe’s energy independence, and build a more secure and affordable energy system. 

Looking ahead, June offers important opportunities to keep that momentum building. On 21 June, we will mark European Solar Day, an annual moment to celebrate the contribution of solar to Europe’s energy transition and to connect the sector with citizens, communities and partners across the continent. 

Later in the month, the SolarPower Europe team will head to Intersolar Europe in Munich. The team will be contributing to several conference sessions and side sessions, as well as launching our two new reports: Global Solar Market Outlook 2026-2030, and the European Battery Storage Market Outlook 2026-2030. We will also be at the exhibition, Booth B3.107, where you can stop by every morning from 09:30-10:30 for a live presentation of the figures from the new reports and talk to our team. We will host our legendary booth party on Wednesday 24 June – looking forward to seeing you there! 

As we move into the next month, our message remains consistent: solar is delivering, storage is scaling, and Europe must now translate ambition into action. With the right policy signals, swift implementation and continued collaboration across institutions, industry and society, we can build an energy system that is cleaner, more affordable and more secure for all.