Report: Commercial solar hits grid parity in Spain, Germany and Italy

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Solar PV has reached grid parity in Spain, Germany and Italy according to a new report by the consultancy Eclareon.

According to its annual Photovoltaic Grid Parity Monitor(GPM), the levelised cost of energy (LCOE) for self-consumed commercial solar was competitive with retail electricity prices.

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 study, sponsored by SunEdison, BayWa and Spanish renewable electricity provider Gesternova, looked at seven markets: Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico and Spain.

It found that of the European countries studied, all but France were now able to offer PV at prices that compete with the grid.

Higher solar irradiance compensates for the lower cost of retail electricity in these markets.

Latin American countries still have high PV install costs according to the report but policy support could help to overcome this and the falling cost of power that delays the achievement of parity.

“In countries such as Brazil and Mexico, self-consumption is being encouraged by an effective regulatory mechanism, which allows prosumers to feed their excess generation into the grid for later consumption,” said David Pérez, partner of Eclareon in charge of the study.

“In countries such as Italy and Germany, both at grid parity and with proper regulation, PV systems for self-consumption represent a viable, cost-effective, and sustainable power generation alternative,” said Pérez.

The study’s results match closely with those of the European Photovoltaics Industry Association (EPIA) and the PV Parity Project, which found that Spain, Germany, Portugal and Italy would hit grid parity for commercial solar first.

Spain and Italy have both retroactively cut support for renewables and enforced charges on self-consumption. Germany is currently looking to establish a charge on self-consumption.

Read Next

May 23, 2025
The California State Assembly’s Appropriations Committee has passed a net metering bill that could worsen residential solar owners’ rates when acquiring a property.
May 23, 2025
TotalEnergies has commissioned its largest solar portfolio in Europe, a collection of five assets in Spain with a combined capacity of 263MW.
May 23, 2025
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill slashing tax credit provisions for clean energy projects.
May 23, 2025
As European power markets consolidate and become more competitive, the increasing frequency of negative capture prices is challenging the viability of renewable energy projects.
Premium
May 23, 2025
The PPA is a 'cornerstone' of the European renewables space, according to speakers at Solar Media's Renewables Procurement & Revenue Summit.
Premium
May 23, 2025
Tongwei's CEO has told an annual shareholder meeting that next year will see a turning point in industry fortunes as obsolete capacity is phased out.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 8, 2025
Asia
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece