European solar power generation unit with energy storage

What is Solarpower Europe?

PV trade body SolarPower Europe is celebrating its 40th anniversary with the tagline SolarPower Europe: solar, storage, and flexibility, and has announced plans for a Battery Storage Europe platform to highlight case studies and regulatory best practice.

Are solar and storage delivering European energy security and competitiveness?

The new reports underline the potential of solar and storage delivering European energy security and competitiveness. ‘Embracing the benefits of Hybrid PV systems’ – which includes solar hybrid projects with storage, wind, or both – estimates that hybrid projects have a 10% lower Levelised Cost of Electricity compared to standalone projects.

What are Europe's 'flexible buildings & resilient grids' & 'mission Solar?

Complementing SolarPower Europe’s flagship flexibility reports, like the annual ‘EU Battery Energy Storage Systems Outlook’, or Mission Solar 2040, the Association has published two further reports. ‘Flexible Buildings, Resilient Grids’ and ‘Embracing the benefits of Hybrid PV systems’ focus on distributed and utility flexibility respectively.

How does energy storage work in the EU?

The main energy storage method in the EU is by far 'pumped storage hydropower', which works by pumping water into reservoirs when there is an electricity surplus in the grid - for example on a sunny or windy day - and releasing it when more energy is needed.