Time to Get Flexible

Earlier this month, SolarPower Europe released its position paper outlining an EU Flexibility Strategy, emphasising why it is vital that Europe commits to this as part of its upcoming Grids Package. The scale of the challenge is immense, Europe must accelerate its efforts to enhance energy system flexibility if it is to achieve energy security, maintain competitiveness, and meet climate ambitions. With electricity demand projected to rise by 50% by 2030, flexibility is now indispensable for integrating rapidly expanding renewable generation, preventing congestion and curtailment, and balancing the inevitable variations in supply and demand.

By embracing flexible solutions, Europe stands to gain significantly by 2030: electricity prices could drop by as much as 25%, approximately €130 billion could be saved by reducing fossil fuel imports, and 151 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions could be avoided every year.

However, the EU still lacks a unified strategy to unleash the full potential of flexibility. SolarPower Europe’s latest recommendations provide a clear roadmap, built upon three core pillars:

• Prioritise flexibility in grid development.
• Unlock the full potential of demand response.
• Seize the opportunity of battery storage, and increase EU battery storage capacity tenfold by 2030.

To launch the position paper, we convened SolarPower Europe’s members alongside industry experts, grid operators, regulators and representatives from the European Commission, European Parliament, European Investment Bank (EIB), and EU Member States at our Brussels offices. The roundtable discussions centred on shaping the future of flexibility in Europe, fostering insightful exchanges and forging new collaborations. This promising dialogue marks just the beginning of stronger cooperation as we move forward with the next stages of Europe’s energy transition.

SolarPower Europe and the Battery Storage Europe Platform are intensifying their efforts to showcase battery storage as a transformative force in the energy transition. To further this mission, we have launched the platform’s new LinkedIn page, which will feature the latest updates and inspiring stories from across Europe’s battery storage sector.

As the year draws to a close, some exciting milestones await us. Next week, we will host our annual Sustainable Solar Europe event in Brussels, organised in partnership with Intersolar Europe. This gathering will unite industry experts and policymakers for a 360-degree perspective on solar sustainability. We hope to see you there!

Next month, we also anticipate the European Commission’s publication of major files, including the Grids Package, Industrial Accelerator Act and more. Stay tuned for updates, and remember, SolarPower Europe members will receive our exclusive, in-depth analysis of these packages.

Finally, don’t miss the release of SolarPower Europe’s flagship report: European Solar Market Outlook 2026-2030, available on 11 December. Register here to attend the launch webinar.