Europe installed 6.7GW solar in 2016 – SolarPower Europe

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Southern European countries could reach prices as low as €0.03/kWh in 2017/18. Credit: Conergy

Europe added 6.7GW of solar last year with demand decreasing by more than 21% from the prior year, according to the latest data from SolarPower Europe.

The association also tallied the global installations figure for 2016 at a record-breaking 76.2GW, growing 50% year-on-year, with Asia taking 66% of the market share.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The announcement was made on the opening day of the SolarPower Summit 2017 in Brussels, where PV Tech has reported on big energy utilities “changing the appearance” of the European solar market as they wade into the sector, as well as the cause of France ramping up its solar ambitions.

Last year, European solar prices reached their lowest ever levels and are expected to continue decreasing, with tariffs in German tenders falling by a quarter in 18 months.

Michael Schmela, executive advisor and head of market intelligence at SolarPower Europe said Southern European countries could even reach prices as low as €0.03/kWh in 2017/18, but this would require stable governance to attract investment in solar.

James Watson, chief executive of Solar Power Europe, said: “Solar is one of the lowest-cost power generation sources today, and this is true for Europe. The European Union is not harvesting the sun as much it could and should – it's time to change that!

“We need an open trade policy that supports the growth of solar in Europe and a clean tech industrial policy that supports the growth of solar jobs.”

Meanwhile, Alexandre Roesch, policy director at SolarPower Europe said: “The European Commission's proposed Clean Energy Package is a good starting point. If it will result in market rules that support the energy transition and enable a flexible system that puts prosumers at its core, then we have the grounds for making solar great again.”

25 November 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Large Scale Solar Central and Eastern Europe continues to be the place to leverage a network that has been made over more than 10 years, to build critical partnerships to develop solar projects throughout the region.

Read Next

July 29, 2025
US-based solar manufacturer T1 Energy has expressed support for the US government’s tariff investigations into global polysilicon imports and solar products from Laos, Indonesia and India.
July 25, 2025
According to a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the global levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) for solar PV reached US$0.043/kWh in 2024.
July 24, 2025
2025 will be the first time in over a decade that solar power additions decline in the EU, according to a mid-year report from SolarPower Europe.
July 22, 2025
The investigation launched on polysilicon under Section 232 could present the biggest supply chain challenge to the US solar industry, according to analyst Wood Mackenzie.
Premium
July 18, 2025
Inside the European Solar Academy's steps to equip Europe’s workforce with necessary skills as it approaches its first anniversary.
Premium
July 17, 2025
Implementing greater policy clarity pertaining to the EPBD will be essential if Europe is to realise its distributed rooftop solar targets.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK