EU Solar Market 2026 Mid-Year Analysis: Growth Amid Crisis, Policy Gaps - News and Statistics
Sep 8, 2026
EU Solar Market Grows in H1 2026 Despite Policy Headwinds
Solar power proved its value again during the first half of 2026, as Europe faced a new fossil fuel crisis and record summer heatwaves, according to SolarPower Europe’s EU Solar Market Update: 2026 Mid-Year Analysis. The report, released on 8 September 2026, indicates that the EU solar market grew slightly in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year, driven largely by external factors such as the fossil fuel crisis and extreme weather, rather than stronger policy support.
Despite solar’s growing contribution to energy security and affordability, policy support continues to weaken across key markets. The report notes that under current market and policy conditions, the EU remains off track to meet its 2030 solar target. SolarPower Europe’s CEO, Walburga Hemetsberger, commented that when fossil fuel prices rise and heatwaves hit, solar delivers affordable, home-grown energy, but many governments are reducing support and increasing uncertainty. She emphasized the need for policymakers to focus on grids, storage, flexibility, and stable investment frameworks.
Since the start of the Middle East conflict on 1 March 2026, solar PV generated 282 TWh of electricity across the EU, avoiding more than EUR 30 billion in gas imports for power generation, which amounts to around EUR 164 million per day. Solar also played a key role in safeguarding Europe’s energy security this summer, supplying more than 20% of EU electricity generation in May, June, and July for the second consecutive year. In June, solar reached a record 25% share, becoming the EU’s largest source of power for that month.
The report highlights that weakening policy support is visible in several key markets. France has reduced support for rooftop solar, Czechia’s changes to the New Green Savings Programme have weighed on residential demand, and Germany is debating reforms that would reduce support for new rooftop systems from 2027. Regulatory uncertainty and grid bottlenecks are making investment decisions more difficult across the EU, leading to rising curtailment, declining solar capture rates, more frequent negative-price periods, and sharp evening price peaks.
To maximize solar’s benefits, the report stresses the need for rapid scaling of investment in storage, electrification, flexibility, and grid infrastructure. Without faster progress in these areas and more stable policy frameworks, the resilience demonstrated in 2026 will be difficult to translate into sustained growth required to meet Europe’s 2030 solar targets.
1. INTRODUCTION
Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
- REPORT DESCRIPTION
- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
- DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
- GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A Quick Overview of Market Performance
- KEY FINDINGS
- MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
3. MARKET OVERVIEW
Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects
- MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION
Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
- TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
- BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
- MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
- MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
- MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT
5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES
Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
- TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
- TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
- LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS
Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export
- TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
- UNSATURATED MARKETS
- TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
- MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
7. PRODUCTION
The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
- PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
8. IMPORTS
The Largest Import Supplying Countries
- IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
9. EXPORTS
The Largest Destinations for Exports
- EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS
The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
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11. COUNTRY PROFILES
The Largest Markets And Their Profiles
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO11.1
United States
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.2
China
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.3
Japan
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.4
Germany
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.5
United Kingdom
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.6
France
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.7
Brazil
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.8
Italy
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.9
Russian Federation
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.10
India
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.11
Canada
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.12
Australia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.13
Republic of Korea
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.14
Spain
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.15
Mexico
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.16
Indonesia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.17
Netherlands
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.18
Turkey
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.19
Saudi Arabia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.20
Switzerland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.21
Sweden
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.22
Nigeria
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.23
Poland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.24
Belgium
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.25
Argentina
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.26
Norway
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.27
Austria
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.28
Thailand
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.29
United Arab Emirates
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.30
Colombia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.31
Denmark
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.32
South Africa
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.33
Malaysia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.34
Israel
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.35
Singapore
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.36
Egypt
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.37
Philippines
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.38
Finland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.39
Chile
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.40
Ireland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.41
Pakistan
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.42
Greece
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.43
Portugal
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.44
Kazakhstan
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.45
Algeria
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.46
Czech Republic
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.47
Qatar
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.48
Peru
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.49
Romania
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.50
Vietnam
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
LIST OF TABLES
- Key Findings In 2025
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Per Capita Consumption, by Country, 2022–2025
- Production, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
LIST OF FIGURES
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Consumption, by Country, 2025
- Market Volume Forecast to 2035
- Market Value Forecast to 2035
- Market Size and Growth, By Product
- Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
- Exports and Growth, By Product
- Export Prices and Growth, By Product
- Production Volume and Growth
- Exports and Growth
- Export Prices and Growth
- Market Size and Growth
- Per Capita Consumption
- Imports and Growth
- Import Prices
- Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Production, by Country, 2025
- Production, In Physical Terms, by Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)