Solar Charged, Storage Ready

European Solar Day  took place on 21 June, the longest and brightest day of the year. The annual celebration aims to raise awareness for the power of the sun to provide clean, affordable and reliable energy to citizens and businesses across Europe and beyond. This year, the campaign united over 85 partners to spread the word far and wide.

We marked the occasion with the launch of our Guide to Solar Facts, a set of frequently asked questions about solar energy. It covers ten key topics, from the basics to how solar installations interact with communities and the environment. As fake news poses real challenges to the roll-out of renewable energies on the continent, we hope this new guide to solar energy proves an accessible tool to dispel misinformation, inform citizens, and empower communities.

The threat of misinformation has been made prominent with the recent Iberian blackout. While many were quick to point blame at solar and renewables, a report from the Spanish Government published this month has confirmed that solar was not the cause of the blackout. Read our joint statement with UNEF (Spanish solar PV association), APREN (Portoguese Renewables Association), Global Solar Council and Global Renewables Alliance, here.

Going forward, the Iberian blackout must be a moment of learning. Solar PV already has the capacity to control voltage, but regulations did not allow its application. This is a call for accelerated investment in grid resilience and system flexibility – especially through grid-forming inverters and battery storage. These technologies are already available and are key to supporting stable voltage levels, managing variability, and delivering renewable-powered energy security.

SolarPower Europe is proud to have launched the Battery Storage Europe Platform this month with a kick-off strategy day in our offices in Brussels, uniting members and key stakeholders. The Battery Storage Europe Platform brings together industry leaders representing the battery storage value chain to advance the business case and regulatory frameworks for battery storage across the EU. Together, we urge a tenfold increase in battery storage by 2030 to ensure Europe’s energy transition, security, and competitiveness.

If you’re interested in getting involved in the platform, reach out to the SolarPower Europe team here.

We will continue our work on battery storage in the coming month with a new annual event: Battery Business and Development Forum, taking place in Frankfurt on 16 July.

Topping off the month, the SolarPower Europe team spent some days glamping in Belgium. A moment to strategise for the years ahead, share some nice moments together and generate good energy for the months to come!

While the summer months still await us, we are already looking forward to rentrée season in Brussels! Don’t miss out on our legendary Rooftop REconnect event on 4 September with 360 degree views of Brussels. Register here.