Solar, Storage, Flexibility

This week, however, we have been shaken by the news of the electric grid blackout across Spain, Portugal and parts of France. We're relieved to see that power has now been largely restored. To members and friends who were impacted, we sincerely hope you, your families and loved ones are safe and well.

While the cause is still unknown, we have issued a statement with UNEF, the Spanish solar association, and the Global Solar Council. Read the full statement here. This should be seen as a wake up call for accelerated battery and flexibility deployment across Europe. We continue to call on the European Commission to include an EU Storage Action Plan as part of an EU Energy System Flexibility Package.  

Meanwhile, there has been some positive movement for flexibility and electrification. The European Commission recently announced its new Decarbonisation Bank marking a significant milestone in the continent’s journey toward climate neutrality — and a major win for solar power. SolarPower Europe were proud to be part of the first stakeholder workshop on the Industrial Decarbonisation Bank pilot auction earlier this month. Despite our earlier concerns that the Bank risked losing focus on untried solutions, we’re happy to see the pilot is backing the leading solution to decarbonisation – electrification. 

We strongly welcome the Commission’s clear focus on direct electrification as a priority technology for decarbonising industrial heat. As industries seek efficient and scalable pathways to reduce emissions, electrification stands out as a mature, ready-to-deploy solution. Embedding electrification at the heart of the Industrial Decarbonisation Bank’s design is not only timely — it’s essential. It ensures that the support mechanisms we build today will drive real, lasting progress towards Europe's 2030 and 2050 climate targets.

The establishment of the Industrial Decarbonisation Bank represents a historic opportunity to empower European industries with clean, competitive energy. We look forward to continuing an open dialogue with policymakers to help shape a successful first auction and beyond — accelerating Europe's clean industrial transition and placing solar energy at the forefront of the new energy era.

As we navigate this new era and focus on electrification, we are excited to gather with the solar community at Intersolar Europe 2025, taking place 7-9 May in Munich. SolarPower Europe will once again lead the conversation on the future of solar with a dynamic programme of events during the conference, and throughout the exhibition. Make sure to join us at our booth B3.109 to talk to members of the team.

Catch us at the conference for the launch of two of our flagship reports: 

• Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 2025-2029 — your essential guide to global solar trends and emerging opportunities.

• European Market Outlook for Battery Storage 2025-2029 — offering critical insights into the role of storage in strengthening Europe’s energy system.

Each day of the exhibition from 09:30-10:30, our market intelligence experts will host a breakfast at our booth to talk through the latest solar and storage market trends.

Whether it’s reconnecting with our longstanding members, meeting new solar friends, or welcoming fresh faces to the sector, Intersolar Europe is the place to be. Together, we will celebrate the achievements of the past year and set the course for a bright path ahead.

Don’t miss our Let’s Flex Booth Party on Thursday 8 May at 18:00.

See you in Munich!