Cover Story

Grid infrastructure has emerged as a key stumbling block in Europe’s transition to a cleaner energy system. Chris Rosslowe of Ember considers how the EU’s power network can be made fit for purpose as an enabler rather than an impediment to greater renewables deployment.

The market drivers that have spurred record solar growth in Europe in recent years are weakening as the energy crisis abates. JP Casey reports on the measures policymakers must implement to ensure Europe remains an attractive destination for the huge levels capital needed to finance the energy transition.

Multiple gigawatts of domestic PV manufacturing are needed in Europe to support the continent’s solar deployment targets and underpin future energy resilience. Will Norman reports on the pros and cons of ongoing efforts to reshore European manufacturing.

Three of the five new European markets to hit 1GW of solar in 2023 were from the east. Will Norman looks at the shifting dynamics of Eastern Europe’s leading solar markets, which like much of the continent’s solar sector, are struggling to maintain the tempo as the 2022 energy crisis eases.

Jonathan Tourino Jacobo looks at Southern Europe, where pricing, grid capacity and a recent prohibition of PV on farmland are causing headaches.

JP Casey reports on recent developments in Western Europe, where past and future elections are creating waves.

After several record years of new capacity additions, Europe’s solar market looks set for a cool-off period as the urgency spurred by the 2022 energy crisis abates. Jonathan Tourino Jacobo reports on the barriers now facing European solar, from changing political winds to lagging grid modernisation efforts.

Solar and storage are playing a central role in Japan’s goal of enhancing energy security. Uranulzii Batbayer and Aniket Autade of Rystad Energy look at recent developments in the market to assess Japan’s progress in reaching its 2030 targets.

Inspection companies are key in enforcing and setting the quality standards underpinning module performance. TÜV Rheinland’s solar segment manager, Lukas Jakisch, tells Will Norman how they are keeping abreast of the rapid pace of technological change.