Last year, for the first time, solar power plants in the EU produced more energy than coal plants

Solar energy remains the fastest growing renewable energy source in the European Union, despite a decline in growth rates. In 2024, 65.5 gigawatts of new photovoltaic power plants were added, bringing the total European PV capacity to 338 gigawatts. According to analysts at SolarPower Europe, the European PV Association, the growth rate of PV will remain similar in the coming years, with a growth rate of between three and seven percent.

Historic milestone
According to a report by the European Electricity Review, power plants in the European Union produced more energy than coal-fired plants for the first time last year, with solar accounting for 11% of electricity generation.

While in 2023, the EU's renewables - wind, hydro, solar and biomass - accounted for 44.8% of generation, last year it was already 47.3% of the total mix. The biggest contributor to the increase was the expansion of solar, which rose from 9.3% to 11.1. By contrast, coal's share fell by exactly two percentage points from 11.8%. The share of gas-fired power stations also fell, and the overall share of fossil fuels in energy production fell from 32.2% to 28.9%. Nuclear remained the most used energy source, increasing from 23% to 23.7%.

The need to develop energy storage
This historic milestone, however, brings new challenges related to the efficient use of the energy produced, which needs to be efficiently stored for later consumption. The solution is to integrate battery storage directly at the point of energy production or consumption. These storage facilities allow excess energy to be stored and used at times of increased demand, minimising losses and increasing grid stability.

As the share of renewable energy sources (RES) increases, the need for grid balancing services also increases. Batteries are ideal for these services as they can respond quickly to fluctuations in electricity supply and demand. Although the current capacity of battery storage may be limited compared to the overall grid, the attractiveness of this sector is expected to lead to significant investment and a rapid increase in installed capacity.