Increasing Solar Power Generation in the EU
The list of solar leaders in the EU saw a significant shift this year, with Greece emerging as the new leader, generating 19% of electricity from solar, followed by Hungary (18%) and Spain (17%).
Greece’s success can be attributed to the accelerating capacity growth since 2019 (1.4 GW added in 2022 and 1.7 GW in 2023), made possible due to the feed-in premium for small ground-mounted PV (until the end of 2022), permitting procedures simplified in 2022 and strengthened Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) support.
The Netherlands – the former solar champion – dropped into fourth place (16%), a significant change from the five percentage point jump in 2022. This was predominantly caused by grid congestion, a lack of available space for ground-mounted PV systems and the anticipated phase out of the net-metering scheme. The Netherlands is also the only country not to increase its 2030 solar capacity target in its draft National Energy and Climate Plan.
Overall, 24 countries achieved a record share of solar in their electricity mix in 2023, with Latvia, Slovakia and Slovenia as the only EU exceptions.
In absolute generation, Spain had the largest increase of 9.4 TWh (+26%). This is more than double the next highest, Poland, with a 3.9 TWh (+47%) increase, which however did not match 2022 growth (+4.4 TWh). Next were France at 3.6 TWh (+18%), Netherlands and Italy (+2.8 TWh, +16% and +10%, respectively). The year-on-year solar generation growth in the Netherlands was below 2022 values (+5.8 TWh, +51%).
25 countries installed more capacity in 2023 than in 2022, setting the stage for a record solar performance in 2024. Germany became the first Member State to add more than 10 GW of solar capacity in a year – 14 GW – bringing its total to 82 GW. Germany also has one of the most substantial 2030 solar target increases in its NECP, adding a huge 93 GW (+76%) to the previous target and aiming for 215 GW of solar in total by 2030. Yet, Germany is also among the countries that saw almost no solar generation growth in 2023 (+0.8 TWh).