SolarPower Europe has presented its new Solar+ report, which shows that a power system based on renewables and storage could halve the operating costs of Europe’s electricity system by 2030. According to the Solar+ scenario, annual operating costs fall by as much as 55 billion EUR, nearly half compared to 2025.

According to SolarPower Europe, the accelerated deployment of solar energy and storage enables the European Union’s power system to reach 68% renewable electricity, in line with the EU’s climate and energy goals.

Beyond financial benefits, a renewable-based system also delivers more stable prices. Average day-ahead electricity prices could be 14% lower, while in high-price countries such as Germany, the drop could reach 25%.

− An electricity system driven by renewables is fundamentally more cost-effective than relying on the volatile pricing and burning of fossil fuels. Investment in renewables, storage, and non-fossil flexibility pays off for years to come, while fossil fuel investments cost Europe its stability and independence said − Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe.

A strong growth in battery energy storage systems is being recorded. By 2030, capacity could reach 171 GW and nearly 600 GWh, with an average storage duration of 3.5 hours.

− The rapid scale‑up of battery storage already underway, and set to accelerate towards 2030, underlines the pivotal role batteries play in Europe’s energy transition. Reaching 171 GW and close to 600 GWh in our Solar+ scenario shows real progress towards deeper system flexibility. However, even this higher‑ambition scenario still falls short of the storage volumes Europe ultimately needs, underlining the urgency for stronger policy action to unlock flexibility at scale. Only by closing this gap can renewables fully deliver energy security, stability and affordable electricity for consumers − added Sonja Risteska, Head of the Battery Storage Europe Platform. 

SolarPower Europe is calling on the EU to adopt a flexibility strategy and an electrification action plan, to ensure energy security, stability, and affordable electricity for consumers. 

The ‘Solar+: An EU pathway to achieve renewable targets, price affordability, and energy security’ report was produced with the support of Rystad Energy, and launched in Brussels during the annual SolarPower Summit.

You can read the full report here:

Photo: SolarPower Europe