Map of solar insolation on the Europen continent. Annual values range from 900 kWh per square metre (in Northern Scotland) to 1900 kWh per square metre (in Southern Spain).
Solar potential in Europe

Solar power consists of photovoltaics (PV) and solar thermal energy in the European Union.

In 2010, the €2.6 billion European solar heating sectors consisted of small and medium-sized businesses, generated 17.3 terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy, employed 33,500 workers, and created one new job for every 80 kW of added capacity.[1]

During 2011, an additional 21.9 gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaics systems were connected to the grid in the European Union, a steep increase from 13.4 GW in 2010.[2] Turnover of the European PV market amounted to approximately €36 billion for this period.[3]

Photovoltaic solar power

PV growth in watts per capita from 1992 to 2014
  <0.1, n/a
  0.1-1
  1-10
  10-50
  50-100
  100-150
  150-200
  200-300
  300-450

In 2012, photovoltaic systems with a total capacity of 17.2 gigawatt (GW) were connected to the grid in Europe, less than in 2011, when 22.4 GW had been installed. In terms of total installed capacity, according to EPIA's 2012-report, Europe still led the way with more than 70 GW, or 69% of worldwide capacity, producing 85 TWh of electricity annually. This energy volume is sufficient to power the supply needs of over 20 million households.[2]

In 2011, solar photovoltaic continued its growth trend and Italy was the top market for the year, with 9.3 GW connected, followed by Germany (7.5 GW). These two markets were followed by France (1.7 GW) and the United Kingdom (784 MW). In terms of cumulative capacity, Germany with more than 24 GW, is the leading country in Europe,[2] followed by Italy, with more than 12 GW. PV is now a significant part of Europe's electricity mix, producing 2% of the demand in the EU and roughly 4% of peak demand.[2]

PV roof-top system in Berlin, Germany.

In 2011 the EU's solar electricity production is evaluated as ca 44.8 TWh in 2011 with 51.4 GW installed capacity, up 98% on 2010. In 2011 in the EU new installations were 21.5 GW. The solar power share in 2011 was around 3.6% in Italy, 3.1% in Germany and 2.6% in Spain. EuroObserver expects the total installation to reach at least 120 GW in 2020. The national strategies are equivalent to 84 GW solar capacity in 2020 which may underestimate the actual development taking place. For example, according to AGEE-Stat (the Ministry of Environment's Working Group on Renewable Energy Statistics), Germany connected solar capacity 7.5 GWp in 2011, twice the 3.5 GWp target. EU accounted for 74% of all newly connected capacity in 2011. According to Photon International magazine the worldwide solar cell production capacity was 12.5 GW in 2009 and 37 GW in 2011. In 2012, production capacities are set to rise to 69 GW, same as the total installed capacity worldwide at the end of 2011.[4]

Denmark reached its governmental goal of achieving 200 MW of photovoltaic capacity by 2020 already in 2012, eight years in advance. At that time Danish energy sector players estimated that this development would result in 1000 MW by 2020.[5] Croatia as the newest member of the EU has a less than enthusiastic embrace of solar power due to a number of reasons. However, in past few years, Croatian solar energy has seen a dramatic increase in the overall output. From 32.4 MWh in 2012, to an additional 46,2 MWh in 2013 with another 108 MWh[6] awaiting to be connected to the national grid and additional power plants under construction with total energy output exceeding 200 MWh. Croatian national renewable energy strategy is to increase participating share of renewable in overall energy mix from current 15.8% (end of 2012) to around 25% by 2020 with solar generating at least 500 MWh.

PV in the European Union (MWpeak)[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]
# Country 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005
1Germany Germany 66,552 59,371 53,66948,91245,15642,29140,67739,22237,89836,70832,69824,87517,3709,9596,0193,8463,0631,910
2Italy Italy 25,077 22,594 21,65020,86520,10819,68219,28318,90118,59418,18516,36112,7643,4781,1574581205846
3Netherlands Netherlands 19,143 14,911 11,1087,2264,6082,9112,1351,5261,007650321118976857535151
4Spain Spain 18,214 13,715 10,1368,8074,7644,7234,7134,7044,6974,6904,5164,2143,8083,4383,42173311858
5France France 17,410 14,810 12,05610,8089,6728,6107,7027,1386,0345,2774,0272,8311,054335104473326
7Poland Poland 11,167 7,416 3,9551,5395622871871082723.41.82110.60.40.3
8Belgium Belgium 6,898 6,012 5,5734,6374,0003,6213,3293,1323,0152,9022,6491,812787574712242
9Greece Greece 5,557 4,277 3,2882,8342,6522,6062,6042,6042,5962,5791,5436312055519975
10Austria Austria 3,548 2,783 2,0431,7021,4551,2691,0969377856264211731035332272924
11Hungary Hungary 2,988 2,968 2,1311,40072834423517289353.74.120.70.50.40.20.2
12Czech Republic Czech 2,627 2,264 2,1722,1112,0812,0752,0682,0752,0672,0642,0221,9591,95346355410
13Sweden Sweden 2,606 1,606 1,107714428244153104604323181098654
14Portugal Portugal 2,536 1,646 1,100901667579513477415296228143131102681843
15Denmark Denmark 2,490 1,704 1,3041,08099890685178260757139116753333
16Bulgaria Bulgaria 1,948 1,275 1,1001,0441,0331,0311,0301,0281,0291,01993313217610.800
17Romania Romania 1,414 1,394 1,3831,3981,3861,3741,3721,3261,293761492.920.60.50.30.20
18Slovenia Slovenia 632 461 37027824724723323822318721790369210.40.2
19Finland Finland 591 425 318222140823917111111111086544
20Lithuania Lithuania 568 255 1641038274706969686.10.10.1<0.1<0.1000
21Slovakia Slovakia 537 537 5354904725285335335335335174881440.2<0.1000
22Estonia Estonia 535 395 2081213215107320.20.2<0.1<0.1<0.1000
23Cyprus Cyprus 464 315 229151118110847664351710632110.5
24Luxembourg Luxembourg 319 277 187160131128122116110957630272625242424
25Malta Malta 206 206 188151132112947555291811220.20.10.10.1
26Croatia Croatia 182 138 10985686056483319201616125.63.21.20.5
27Ireland Ireland 135 135 9058321762210.70.70.60.60.40.40.30.3
28Latvia Latvia 56 7 532111.51.51.51.51.5<0.1<0.1<0.1000
6United Kingdom United Kingdom - - -13,22413,05912,76011,9149,6015,5282,9371,6571,014753023191411
European Union EU (GWp) 198.33 161.90 136.18 131.02 114.81 106.69 101.11 95.02 86.85 80.33 68.64 51.36 29.33 15.86 10.38 4.94 3.42 2.17
PV in watts per capita[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][24][25]
# Country 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
1Netherlands Netherlands 1081.5815.4 636.9 400.6250.3160.9120.183.165.439.619.17.1
2Germany Germany 794.2706.2 645.4 590.4546.9512.0503.1489.8474.1447.2399.5304.3
3Belgium Belgium 590.3544.7 483.0 395.5373.2338.4302.8286.7277.2267.3240.0165.5
4Greece Greece 532.9371.0 307.3 260.5246.9242.2241.4241.7236.8233.7136.755.8
5Cyprus Cyprus 508.4352.7 256.7 146.9130.9123.164.782.075.540.219.912.5
6Luxembourg Luxembourg 488.4435.3 296.6 229.0222.6215.0212.8222.0200.1186.289.959.9
7Italy Italy 425.5373.1 364.2 345.7332.4325.0317.7311.3303.5295.1269.0210.5
8Denmark Denmark 421.8273.5 223.6 186.0173.3158.3150.4138.3106.994.870.23.0
9Estonia Estonia 396.6311.3 156.4 80.80.00.07.73.10.10.10.10.1
10Austria Austria 392.4314.5 229.1 187.5162.4142.3123.9108.990.681.749.920.7
11Malta Malta 387.9369.9 364.8 305.1276.0247.9188.8170.5127.558.745.027.4
12Spain Spain 381.2276.5 214.0 196.7101.8109.8103.4106.0102.9100.797.891.3
13Hungary Hungary 309.9219.0 218.6 130.777.137.629.314.03.91.60.40.4
14Poland Poland 303.3202.7 104.4 34.712.87.15.22.030.60.10.10.0
15Bulgaria Bulgaria 301.3171.5 158.6 152.1146.9144.8144.3141.7140.8139.9127.417.7
16Slovenia Slovenia 299.2174.0 176.0 106.7123.9124.9125.5124.8124.2123.8105.744.1
17France France 256.1218.5 178.4 157.9141.4120.5107.399.187.671.661.643.5
18Sweden Sweden 248.5154.6 106.9 68.241.923.115.613.38.24.52.52.0
19Czech Republic Czech 246.2198.0 203.0 197.2193.0192.9194.0197.7196.1196.1192.5186.0
20Portugal Portugal 243.6160.0 106.8 88.365.255.245.444.340.226.821.713.5
21Lithuania Lithuania 200.691.2 58.7 29.726.328.827.725.023.222.92.00.0
22Finland Finland 106.473.0 57.5 39.022.711.13.62.71.92.12.12.1
23Slovakia Slovakia 98.998.0 98.0 86.697.698.1100.5109.0109.099.395.789.8
24Romania Romania 74.272.8 71.8 71.470.570.069.466.764.851.10.30.1
25Croatia Croatia 47.226.9 26.9 16.914.912.412.010.68.15.10.10.1
26Latvia Latvia 29.84.2 2.6 1.60.50.70.80.80.80.70.70.7
27Ireland Ireland 26.327.2 18.1 7.36.01.91.10.50.20.20.20.2
28United Kingdom United Kingdom -- - 204.3197.0193.9176.8137.781.342.926.316.2
European Union EU 466.5 354.2 334.5 254.5 223.6 208.3 197.8 186.1 171.5 155.8 136.3 102.2

Concentrated solar power

Solar power, the production of electricity from solar energy, is performed either directly, through photovoltaics, or indirectly, using concentrated solar power (CSP). One advantage that CSP has is the ability to add thermal storage and provide power up to 24 hours a day.[26] Gemasolar, in Spain, was the first to provide 24-hour power.[27] There is considerable academic and commercial interest internationally in a new form of CSP, called STEM, for off-grid applications to produce 24-hour industrial scale power for mining sites and remote communities in Italy, other parts of Europe, Australia, Asia, North Africa and Latin America. STEM uses fluidised silica sand as a thermal storage and heat transfer medium for CSP systems. It has been developed by Salerno-based Magaldi Industries. The first commercial application of STEM will take place in Sicily from 2015.[28]

CSP in Europe (MWpeak)[29][30]
# Country 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
1Spain Spain10.0060.00281.40531.401,151.401,953.902,303.90
2Italy Italy0005.005.005.005.35
3Germany Germany0001.501.501.501.50
4France France0000.500.750.750.75
European Union EU 10 60 281 738 1,159 1,961 2,311

Solar thermal

Over the next 10 years the European solar thermal will grow on average at a rate of 15% per annum. According to the National Renewable Energy Action Plans the total solar thermal capacity in the EU will be 102 GW in 2020 (while 14 GW in 2006).[1]

In June 2009, the European Parliament and Council adopted the Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from Renewable Energy Sources (RES). For the first time, heating and cooling accounting for half of the final energy demand will be covered by a European directive promoting renewable energies. The overall renewable target is legally binding but renewable mix is free. According to the delivered national plans the highest of solar heating markets during 2010-2020 will be in Italy, Germany, France, Spain, and Poland in respect to the national target in 2020 and capacity increase. Top countries per capita will be Cyprus, Greece, Austria, Italy, and Belgium.[1]

In some European countries the solar thermal market is still in its infancy. Bulgaria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom have extremely low targets in their plans. Estonia, Finland, Latvia, and Romania have not included solar thermal in their national plans at all.[1]

Solar heating is the usage of solar energy to provide space or water heating. Worldwide the use was 88 GWthermal in 2005. Growth potential is enormous. The EU have been second after China in the installations. If all EU countries had used solar thermal as enthusiastically as the Austrians, the EU's installed capacity would have been 91 GWth (130 million m2), far beyond the target of 100 million m2 by 2010, set by the white paper in 1997. In 2005 solar heating in the EU was equivalent to more than 686,000 tons of oil. ESTIF's minimum target is to produce solar heating equivalent to 5,600,000 tons of oil (2020). A more ambitious, but feasible, target is 73 million tons of oil per year (2020) – a lorry row spanning 1,5 times around the globe.[31]

Solar heating in the European Union (MWthermal)
# Country 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
1 Germany7,7669,0369,83110,49611,41612,055
2 Austria2,2683,0313,2272,7923,4483,538
3 Greece2,7082,8532,8552,8612,8852,915
4 Italy1,1241,4101,7532,1522,3802,590
5 Spain9881,3061,5431,6592,0752,238
6 France1,1371,2871,4701,2771,6911,802
7 Poland2543574596378481,040
8 Portugal223395526547677717
9 Czech Republic116148216265625681
10 Netherlands254285313332605616
11 Denmark293339379409499550
12 Cyprus485490491499486476
13 United Kingdom270333374460455475
14 Sweden202217227236337342
15 Belgium188204230226334374
16 Ireland5285106111177196
17 Slovenia96111116123142148
18 Hungary1859105120125137
19 Romania6680737493110
20 Slovakia677384100108113
21 Croatia8498
22 Bulgaria225674815859
23 Malta252932363435
24 Finland182023233033
25 Luxembourg161922252327
26 Latvia11131012
27 Lithuania122368
28 Estonia122346
European Union EU (in GW) 19.08 21.60 23.49 25.55 29.66 31.39
Notes:
  • The relation between collector area and rated power: 1m2 = 0.7 kWthermal
  • Data source for 2013: Divergent figures from different reports. Total of 31.39 GWth corresponds to figures from EurObserv'ER report,[30] while report from the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) accounts for 30.2 GWth and includes capacity from non-EU member Switzerland.[32]
  • Data sources of previous years: 2012 not sourced – 2011[33] – 2010[34][35] – 2009[36] – 2008[37]
  • For historical data from 2004 to 2010 see collapsed table below
Solar heating in watts per capita[29][30]
# Country 2011 2013
1 Cyprus609551
2 Austria397419
3 Greece253263
4 Germany130150
5 Malta8083
6 Denmark78108
7 Slovenia6572
8 Portugal5868
9 Czech Republic5365
10 Spain4148
11 Luxembourg3751
12 Sweden3536
12 Netherlands3537
14 Italy3443
15 Ireland2743
15 Belgium2734
17 France2527
18 Slovakia1921
19 Poland1727
20 Bulgaria118
21 Hungary914
22 United Kingdom77
23 Finland56
24 Romania46
24 Latvia46
26 Estonia14
27 Lithuania13
28 Croatian.a.23
European Union EU average 55 62

Organisations

  • SolarPower Europe[43] is a member-led association representing organisations active along the whole value chain that aim's to ensure that more energy is generated by solar than any other energy source by 2030 and to lead their members to make solar the core of a smart, sustainable, secure and inclusive energy system to reach carbon neutrality before 2050.
  • The European Solar Manufacturing Council[44] is an industry association that represents European solar photovoltaics (PV) manufacturers, research and development organizations, and companies engaged in the upstream PV industry in Europe. ESMC's primary objective is to promote the PV manufacturing industry and its associated value chains at the European level by fostering a supporting political environment.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 [Solar Thermal Markets in Europe Trends and Market Statistics 2010], European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) June 2011 p. 14-15, Figure Capacity in operation 2010/2020
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics until 2016". Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  3. "Fact Sheets". Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  4. Photovoltaic barometer 208 February 2012
  5. Lubbe, Anne (12 September 2012). "Denmark reaches 2020-goal for solar energy before time". um.dk (Press release). Archived from the original on 19 October 2012.
  6. "Razgrabljeni poticaji za solarne elektrane".
  7. Photovoltaic energy barometer 2007 – EurObserv’ER Systèmes solaires Le journal des énergies renouvelables n° 178, p. 49-70, 4/2007
  8. Photovoltaic energy barometer 2009 – EurObserv’ER Systèmes solaires Le journal des énergies renouvelables n° 190, p. 72-102, 3/2009
  9. "Photovoltaic energy barometer 2010 – EurObserv'ER".
  10. "Photovoltaic energy barometer 2011 – EurObserv'ER".
  11. Photovoltaic energy barometer 2012 – EurObserv’ER
  12. 1 2 "Photovoltaic energy barometer 2012 – EurObserv'ER".
  13. 1 2 Photovoltaic energy barometer 2013 – EurObserv’ER
  14. 1 2 Photovoltaic energy barometer 2014 – EurObserv’ER
  15. 1 2 "Photovoltaic barometer 2016". 28 November 2015.
  16. 1 2 "Photovoltaic barometer 2017". 28 November 2016.
  17. 1 2 "Photovoltaic barometer 2018". 28 April 2018.
  18. 1 2 "Photovoltaic barometer 2019". 7 May 2019.
  19. 1 2 "Photovoltaic barometer 2020". 30 April 2020.
  20. "Renewable Capacity Statistics 2021". /publications/2021/March/Renewable-Capacity-Statistics-2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  21. "Renewable Capacity Statistics 2022". /publications/2022/Apr/Renewable-Capacity-Statistics-2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  22. "Renewable capacity statistics 2023". www.irena.org. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  23. "CBS Statline". opendata.cbs.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  24. "Photovoltaic barometer 2022". 28 April 2022.
  25. "Population change - Demographic balance and crude rates at national level (DEMO_GIND)". Eurostat. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  26. "Concentrating Solar Power" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  27. Goodman, Al (3 October 2011). "Spain's round-the-clock solar power plant". CNN.
  28. CSP Today, 11 April 2014 "Italian project shows strong potential for sand based CSP"
  29. 1 2 EurObserv'ER: Solar thermal and concentrated solar power barometer - May 2012
  30. 1 2 3 EurObserv'ER: Solar thermal and concentrated solar power barometer - May 2014 Archived 6 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  31. "Solar Thermal Action Plan for Europe ESTIF, 1/2007" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2007.
  32. http://www.estif.org/ European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) Solar Thermal Markets in Europe - Trends and Market Statistics in 2013, June 2014 archive
  33. http://www.estif.org European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) Solar Thermal Markets in Europe - Trends and Market Statistics in 2011, June 2012 archive
  34. http://www.estif.org European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) Solar Thermal Markets in Europe - Trends and Market Statistics in 2010, June 2011 archive
  35. http://www.eurobserv-er.org - EurObserv'ER Solar thermal and concentrated solar power barometer for 2010, May 2011, archive
  36. http://www.estif.org European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) Solar Thermal Markets in Europe - Trends and Market Statistics in 2009, June 2010 archive
  37. Solar Thermal Markets in Europe - Trends and Market Statistics in 2008, May 2009 archive
  38. since 2010 overseas departments excluded
  39. Solar Thermal Markets in Europe, Trends and market statistics 2006 Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine European Solar Thermal Industry Federation ESTIF, June 2007
  40. "Solar Thermal Markets in Europe, Trends and market statistics 2008" (PDF). Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  41. estif.org - European Solar Thermal Industry Federation Solar Thermal Markets in Europe, Trends and market statistics 2009
  42. estif.org - European Solar Thermal Industry Federation Solar Thermal Markets in Europe, Trends and market statistics 2010, June 2011
  43. "SolarPower Europe". Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  44. "European Solar Manufacturin Council (ESMC)". Retrieved 12 January 2024.
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