EU will add 25.9GW of new solar photovoltaics in 2021, a year-on-year increase of 34%

A new report from SolarPower Europe, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association, shows that 2021 will be the best year for solar installations in the EU, with grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) capacity reaching a record 25.9 GW, a year-on-year increase of 34%.

        The expansion of the EU solar market will continue. By 2025, under the most likely medium scenario in the report, the EU’s cumulative photovoltaic installed capacity will reach 327.6 GW, doubling the current 164.9 GW. By 2030, the total projected capacity is 672 GW.

        In 2021, Germany will still be the EU's largest solar market, with new installed capacity expected to be 5.3 GW, an increase of 8% year-on-year. The Netherlands leads the way in per capita installations, with a per capita installation of 765 watts, an increase of 42% over 2020

        SolarPower Europe also reviewed the national energy and climate plans of EU member states and concluded that all countries will achieve their solar targets by 2030 or earlier. Estonia and Latvia have actually achieved their goals, and Poland, Ireland and Sweden will also achieve them next year.