Trade body SolarPower Europe releases preliminary figures showing industry returned to growth last year, but can it last?
The European solar industry posted solid growth during 2015 as demand for new solar systems rose 15 per cent year-on-year, according to preliminary figures from trade body SolarPower Europe.
The group said its final report on the industry's performance during 2015 would be published next month, but early data released yesterday suggested around 8GW of new solar power capacity was connected to the grid last year, up from 6.95GW in 2014.
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"It is good to see the European solar power sector again on the growth path in 2015," said James Watson, chief executive of SolarPower Europe, noting that demand had fallen in the three years following a record 2011.
However, echoing separate recent reports on the global renewable energy market, the new data confirmed the European solar market is struggling to match the stellar growth recorded in other markets. Overall, global grid connected solar capacity rose over 25 per cent year-on-year in 2015 to over 50GW.
Moreover, fears remain that the European solar market's recovery could prove relatively short-lived. SolarPower Europe said the bulk of the growth seen last year came from a "strong UK market", while demand in other key markets remained flat. The UK solar market is now expected to endure a tough 2016 on the back of the government's controversial decision to slash incentives across the sector.
Watson urged policymakers across Europe to provide the sector with the policy stability it needs to deliver continued growth. "Solar needs clear signals from policy makers in Europe to be able to contribute to achieving the climate goals agreed in Paris," he said. "With solar being competitive for residential and commercial applications in most European countries today, investors need a secure political framework for generation, self-consumption and storage of solar energy."
In related news, a new report this month from Greenpeace International, SolarPACES and the European Solar Thermal Electricity Association (ESTELA) has predicted solar thermal energy (STE) could provide up to six per cent of the world's power by 2030, rising to 12 per cent by 2050.
"This report makes clear that STE is key to achieving a world powered by 100 per cent renewable energy by 2050, which is essential if we are to protect the climate," said Dr Luis Crespo, president of ESTELA, in a statement. "The importance of STE is its ability to harness the sun to provide round-the-clock energy, even when the sun isn't shining. It unlocks a future of emission-free energy in sun-belt countries around the planet."
The report highlighted the opening this month of Morocco's 160MW, Noor 1 STE facility, as evidence the technology has the ability to deliver cost effective clean power in 'sun belt' countries.
"Noor 1 isn't just a show-case for STE technology," said M. Bial, ESTELA Secretary General. "It shows that countries like Morocco can be leaders in renewable energy, setting the country on a path that Europe should follow. The use of STE technology will bring huge benefits not only to Morocco's electricity system and its users, but to the whole country's economy."
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