Eight EU countries on track to meet new NECP solar power targets before 2030

Only 12 European Union member states have updated their national energy and climate plans (NECPs) for 2030. Eight of them are set to meet the new targets for photovoltaic capacity at least three years earlier, SolarPower Europe said.

New analysis from SolarPower Europe reveals that, with almost half of the new draft NECPs submitted, EU countries are aiming to more than double the plan for the 27-member bloc’s solar power capacity for 2030. The European Commission received only 12 submissions so far even though the deadline was June 30.

SolarPower Europe said eight countries are on track to meet their new 2030 targets for photovoltaic capacity at least three years earlier: the Netherlands (2024), Cyprus and Sweden (2025), Croatia, Finland and Spain (2026) and Denmark and Luxembourg (2017). The remaining ones are Italy, Lithuania, Portugal and Slovenia (2028-2030).

The average ambition increase is 63%. The overall goal for the EU jumped by 90 GW to 425 GW with the revised NECPs. The European Commission targets 750 GW for 2030, compared to the 208 GW currently generating electricity.

PV capacity in EU is set to surpass official 2030 target by over 150 GW

“Modelling current installation trends, we can see reality already outstripping this level of ambition. According to latest research, SolarPower Europe anticipates a most-likely scenario where over 900 GW of solar capacity will be installed in the EU by 2030,” the report reads.

Cyprus is expected to reach its updated goal already in 2025

Estonia, Ireland, Latvia and Poland already met their solar power targets, but they are from the plans adopted in 2019.

Lithuania published the largest increase in its goal, by 508% to 5.1 GW. Among the countries that updated their NECPs, Italy has the highest target – a stunning 79 GW or 55% more than in the first plan. Nevertheless, Germany is higher, at 98 GW, even before the revision. And it may reach the current goal in 2025, according to the estimate.

Slovenia has highest new solar power goal in Southeastern Europe

As for the region that Balkan Green Energy News tracks, Cyprus aims to reach 900 MW and Croatia boosted its ambition by 25% to 1 GW, while Slovenia more than doubled its plan, to 3.5 GW.

Greece is expected to reach its old 7.7 GW target next year, SolarPower Europe said. In the draft update, the ambition was lifted to 14.1 GW. Bulgaria is also seen hitting the initial mark, 3.2 GW, in 2024. Romania planned in 2019 to increase its total solar power capacity to 5.1 GW. It is on track to achieve it in 2025, the data showed.

In 2019, the EU mandated member states to publish and implement 10-year NECPs. They include policies and measures that would enable each country to meet its renewable energy targets.