Sustainable Solar Europe 2025 took place this week in Brussels, co-organised by SolarPower Europe and Intersolar. The event brought together 170 participants from industry experts on solar energy and sustainability, to policymakers, NGOs and research institutes.
The event put sustainable solar in the spotlight at a time when the world faces growing global challenges.
“At times when sustainability goals are facing more and more pressure in the global competition race, it is all the more important we keep it up! Solar will be the number one electricity source soon in Europe and globally. This comes with clear responsibilities. We need to deliver, and do it in a sustainable way. That is what we owe our customers and society at large.” said SolarPower Europe CEO, Walburga Hemetsberger.
Guido Agostinelli, International Finance Corporation (IFC), gave an opening keynote speech highlighting the importance of sustainability for responsible solar financing, ensuring long-term value for the environment, communities, and investors.
Throughout the day, sessions covered topics from building responsible and sustainable solar supply chains, to best practices for nature-positive solar and circular end-of-life management.
Policy Pathways to Sustainable Supply Chains
SolarPower Europe’s Policy Advisor Artemis Fakorelli opened the session, stating “If there’s one word dominating the sustainability discussion this year, it’s omnibus. The rational is clear: simplifying procedures to improve efficiency, contributing to the overall competitiveness of the EU. Yet in practice, the opening of this file has created a sense of uncertainty for companies and investors who have already invested a lot to comply with these frameworks.”
Alexandra Sombsthay, Executive Vice President at Akuo and Vice President of SolarPower Europe, gave the industry perspective:
“The CSRD, CSDDD, and the Forced Labour regulation, are frameworks that pave the way for a better Europe. We can only welcome regulations that drive a more responsible and sustainable society. Having these criteria allows us to deliver value for all our stakeholders.”
Javier Martin Cerracín, Team Leader Forced Labour at DG Trade, European Commission, explained the upcoming steps on the EU Forced Labour Regulation including a public consultation to develop implementation guidelines. This will be a key opportunity to engage with industry.
Green by Design: Environmental Policy Shaping the next generation of solar products
In this session, European manufacturers underlined the importance of a level-playing field. Sustainability rules will only help boost sustainable European manufacturing if imports are also required to comply. Furthermore, national strategies to support European manufacturing should be careful not to distort fair competition in the EU.
Alessandro Polito, Team Leader for RES manufacturing and deployment at the European Commission, said:
“Sustainability and resilience go together; sustainable material is resilient - recycled or locally made. The more we recycle, the less we depend on imports. But sustainability is not just for European manufacturing, it is also because it is simply a good thing to respect the environment.”
Responsible end-of-life management of solar
Christina Huber, Senior Policy Advisor at SolarPower Europe led the session which covered various aspects of responsible end-of-life management and recycling of solar PV. Key themes included the complexity and need for simplification of the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, the lack of harmonisation in regulations across European countries, and the challenges posed by recycling processes, partner availability, and financing.
There was emphasis on the importance of asset owners in managing solar panel disposal, the distinction between end-of-life and repowering, and the significant upcoming wave of panels requiring recycling. Speakers highlighted the necessity for clear business models, improved information on recycling technologies, and the development of specific recycling categories for solar PV panels.
Sustainable and swift: getting solar on the ground
In this session, panellists reviewed the transposition into law of the Renewable Energy Directive, and it’s improved permitting procedures. While most EU Member States are yet to transpose and implement the legislation, countries are still seeing significant positive impact in areas where the new rules have taken effect.
Policy Advisor for Sustainability at SolarPower Europe, Lina Dubina, was joined on stage by José Fernandes de Matos, Energy Attaché at the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the EU; Vera Kissler, Policy Officer at the European Commission; Maya Perera, Policy Officer for Climate and Energy, European Environmental Bureau; and Elisa Anderson Vazquez, Regional Policy and Regulation – EU, EDP Renewables.
Both industry and national representatives are looking forward to the EU Grids Package, expected from the European Commission before the end of the year.
European Solar Sustainability Champions
Closing the 2025 Sustainable Solar Europe conference, SolarPower Europe’s Executive Advisor and Market Intelligence Director, Michael Schmela presented the winners of this year’s European Solar Sustainability Awards.
Sunrock; UNEF, the Spanish Solar PV Association; and Bundesverband Neue Energiewirtschaft e.V. (bne), the Association of Energy Market Innovators, were voted as the Gold, Silver, and Bronze 2025 European Solar Sustainability Award Winners at our Sustainable Solar Europe 2025 event. Read the full press release here.
A big thank you to everyone who contributed to making this year’s event a huge success. We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event. Check out the agenda here.
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