Electricity

EU’s solar power additions in 2022 are equivalent to over 100 LNG tankers

SolarPower EU solar power additions 2022 equivalent 100 LNG tankers

Photo: iStock

Published

December 22, 2022

Country

Comments

1

Share

Published:

December 22, 2022

Country:

Comments:

1

Share

A record 41.4 GW of photovoltaic capacity will be installed in the EU this year, SolarPower Europe said in a new report. It is equivalent to 102 LNG tankers, the organization pointed out and added that it expects total capacity to grow 132% in the next four years, to 484 GW.

The European Union will add a record-breaking 41.4 GW of solar power in 2022 or 47% more than in the previous year, SolarPower Europe estimated in its European Market Outlook for Solar Power 2022-2026 and called it a seismic shift for the energy landscape. New installations are also more than two times larger in size than in 2020, the document reveals.

“The numbers are clear. Solar is offering Europe a lifeline amid energy and climate crises. No other energy source is growing as quickly, or reliably, as solar. We’re building a secure, green, prosperous Europe on a foundation of solar,” Chief Executive Officer Walburga Hemetsberger said.

The new capacity is equivalent to the power needs of 12.4 million European homes, and replaces 102 LNG (liquefied natural gas) tankers, the organization pointed out. Moreover, total solar capacity is seen jumping 25% in 2022 to 208.9 GW.

SolarPower EU solar power additions in 2022 are equivalent to over 100 LNG tankers
Photo: SolarPower Europe

Simson: Rooftop solar panels need to become mandatory

European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said the EU Solar Energy Strategy, adopted this year, aims to bring online over 320 GW of photovoltaics by 2025 and almost 600 GW by the end of the decade. The European Commission has launched an initiative to simplify permitting procedures and it also wants rooftop solar panels to become mandatory.

SolarPower Europe’s average prediction for 2023 is 53.6 GW more solar power in the EU, rising to an annual increase of 85 GW in 2026 and bringing the total to 484 GW. In the optimistic scenario for next year, implying rapid and targeted support, additions come in at 67.8 GW. The International Energy Agency recommends installing 60 GW in 2023 to compensate for shortfalls in Russian gas supply.

EU solar power additions 2022
European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson (pictured left) and SolarPower Europe CEO Walburga Hemetsberger

Greece remains top solar power market in Southeastern Europe

Greece ranks ninth on the list of top ten solar markets for 2021-2022, with 0.9 GW and 1.34 GW in added capacity, respectively. Total capacity grows from 5.58 GW to 15.9 GW in the medium scenario for 2026.

However, most of the medium-voltage grid in Greece is congested, the report reads and adds that the same is likely to happen with the high and ultra-high voltage grids. S0lar power plants of more than 1 MW currently make up 22% of total capacity.

In the ranking of installed capacity per capita, Greece climbed one notch to land eighth, surpassing Malta. The measure grew by a stunning 35% to 541 W. The Netherlands remained first. It topped 1 kW for each inhabitant and reached 1.044 W.

Greece solar 2022 2026

The capacity in Romania is projected to rise from the current 1.83 GW to 8 GW. The compound annual growth rate, at 44%, is the second highest among the 15 EU member states in the overview, while Greece is sixth.

Romania’s projected compound annual growth rate for solar power is the second highest in the EU

As for the remaining countries covered by Balkan Green Energy News, Slovenia is hitting 771 MW this year, compared to a total of 208 MW in Croatia, 1.55 GW in Bulgaria and 447 MW in Cyprus, SolarPower Europe said.

Comments (1)
Ed / January 11, 2023

It is totally meaningless to compare a quantity of energy (or potential energy?) as embodied in a quantity of natural gas, with a quantity of installed generating capacity. And if you did want to compare those two things, you’d have to offer a hell of a lot more explanation of the basis of the comparison than this article does.

Enter Your Comment
Please wait... Please fill in the required fields. There seems to be an error, please refresh the page and try again. Your comment has been sent.

Related Articles

Elazig Turkey first floating solar power plant irrigation reservoir

Turkey’s first floating solar power plant installed on irrigation reservoir

27 March 2024 - DSI placed a 1 MW floating photovoltaic plant on a dam reservoir in Elazığ in Eastern Anatolia to power the irrigation system

croatia bilogora agrisolar

Sunčane Livade developing 252 MW agrisolar project

27 March 2024 - The Bilogora agrisolar facility is planned to be installed in the Bjelovar-Bilogora County, about 100 kilometers from the capital Zagreb

Simtel-EUR-12-2-million-EU-grant-Romanian-solar-power

Simtel gets EUR 12.2 million EU grant for Romanian solar power project

27 March 2024 - Romania-based Simtel Team won EUR 12.2 million from the NRRP for its 52 MW solar power project in Giurgiu county in the country's south

Turkey-introduces-import-tariffs-for-solar-panels

Turkey introduces import tariffs for solar panels

27 March 2024 - Importers of solar power panels from Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Croatia and Jordan to Turkey will be charged USD 25 per square meter