Press Releases

Milan, 8 May 2013 – The world added more than 31 GW of new solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2012 – roughly the same amount as in the record-setting year of 2011 – according to a new report from the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). This significant market growth came even during a period of economic crisis and industry consolidation. 

Brussels, 27 March 2013 – The European Commission’s Green Paper on Climate and Energy, released today, opens the debate on Europe’s next steps in the transformation of Europe’s energy sector. The development of meaningful targets for 2030 on renewable energy, energy-efficiency and emissions reduction is needed to give a boost to industry and to investments in clean energy, stated the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), which represents companies all along the solar electricity value chain.

Brussels, 14 March 2013 – Solar industry leaders gathered in Brussels for the Annual General Meeting of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) to identify challenges and set clear priorities for the coming years. They emphasised the need for more sustainable policy support for renewables, proper integration of solar PV into the electricity grid, and increased focus on industry innovation.

Brussels, 28 February 2013 – The approaching competitiveness of solar photovoltaics (PV) with other electricity sources is creating new opportunities for investment in electricity storage, allowing for important synergies between PV and storage in Europe’s energy mix. 

Brussels, 22 February 2013 - Europe’s regulatory framework for the completion of the internal energy market should take into account the rapid growth and new opportunities provided by renewable energy sources, says the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). Europe’s solar industry urges EU Energy Ministers meeting today to unleash the potential of the internal energy market to the benefit of consumers and the environment.

Brussels, 11 February 2013 – The world’s cumulative solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity capacity surpassed 100 gigawatts (GW) in 2012, achieving just over 101 GW, according to new market figures from the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). This global capacity to harness the power of the sun produces as much electricity energy in a year as 16 coal power plants or nuclear reactors of 1 GW each. Each year, the world’s PV installations reduce CO2 emissions by 53 million tons.

Athens, Berlin, Bratislava, Brussels, The Hague, Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Rome, Sofia, Stockholm, Vienna, Warsaw, 16 January 2013 – The Europe-wide PV GRID consortium has released a major update of its comprehensive online public database, which gathers detailed data on project development processes in 16 EU countries. The database now rates each country on how “smart” the process is that PV developers must undergo to get a project running and feeding into the grid.

Brussels, 17 December 2012 – More than 70 companies and associations in the solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity sector have co-signed a letter to European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, calling on the EU to take action against Member States that are enacting retroactive measures or moratoria on support schemes for renewables. The letter, sent by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), makes reference to recent or imminent action in several countries – including Belgium, France, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria and Greece.

Brussels, 3 December 2012 - The European Union has taken an important step forward in the effort to improve its energy infrastructure, but does not go far enough when it comes to the creation of "smart grids" - which are important for the distribution of electricity from renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaics.

Brussels, Athens, London, Lisbon, Madrid, Munich, Paris, Petten, Prague, Rome, Vienna, Würzburg, 26 November 2012 – Grid Parity for residential and commercial consumers – the moment when electricity generated from solar photovoltaics is competitive against other sources – is in sight in many European countries, concludes the PV Parity project consortium. 

Athens, Berlin, Bratislava, Brussels, The Hague, Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Rome, Sofia, Stockholm, Vienna, Warsaw, 15 November 2012 – More than 20 partners have launched a Europe-wide effort to identify solutions to the wider integration of solar PV in Europe, particularly at the distribution level.

Frankfurt, 25 September 2012 – The rise of solar PV and other renewables presents a whole new world for electricity grid operators; EPIA’s report shows how PV is already providing solutions, and how it will be key to meeting Europe’s ambitious energy and environmental goals.

Verona, 9 May 2012 – EPIA releases “Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics Until 2016”, an authoritative analysis of PV markets in Europe and around the world; Italy, Germany are top European markets.