The solar age is here

Our latest edition of the Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 2025-2029 revealed that the world installed a record 597 GW of solar power in 2024 – a 33% surge over 2023. After the world crossed the milestone of 2 terawatts (TW) total solar in late 2024, the annual report predicts the world could be installing 1 TW of solar per year by the end of the decade. While the uptake of solar varies across regions across the world, a common theme is the importance of flexible, electrified energy systems – underpinned by critical technology like battery storage. Decisionmakers across the globe should ensure that their flexibility plans match, and maximise, the solar reality. Watch a short summary of the Global Market Outlook with our Market Analyst, Christophe Lits.

In our European Market Outlook for Battery Storage 2025-2029, the numbers were also very promising. Another year of record installations for European battery storage, despite slower year-on-year growth. 21.9 GWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) was installed in Europe in 2024, marking the eleventh consecutive year of record-breaking installations, and bringing Europe’s total battery fleet to 61.1 GWh. However, the annual growth rate slowed down to 15% in 2024, after three consecutive years of doubling newly added capacity. 

If Europe has already entered the solar age, the battery storage age is just beginning. With solar energy mainstreaming across the continent, now is the time for European decisionmakers to put batteries at the centre of a flexible, electrified, energy system. We urge the European Commission to double-down on their efforts here and come forward with an EU Energy Storage Action Plan as part of a broader Energy System Flexibility Package. The Iberian blackout is a stark reminder that there is no room for complacency in strengthening a robust and flexible energy system for Europe.

We were also pleased to present our new Battery Storage Europe Platform during Intersolar, which will be a new platform by SolarPower Europe to promote the development and expansion of battery storage in Europe. Learn more and keep up to date on developments here.

This month I had the pleasure of traveling to attend some events organised by our national solar PV association members across Europe, including RE-Source South East in Bulgaria, where I also met with the Bulgarian Minister for Energy, Zhecho Stankov. Read more here. I also attended the 10th National Photovoltaic Conference in Bordeaux organised by Syndicat des énergies renouvelables (SER), read up on the event here.

Back on home turf, I had the pleasure of connecting CEOs from our membership with European Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra to discuss how this European success story can continue, enhancing security, boosting competitiveness and protecting the climate while adapting to the changes already underway. Read more here.

As June approaches, I look forward to celebrating European Solar Day on the 21 June – the longest and brightest day of the year. Join us in celebrating!