Solar energy aims to remain the driver of change and the great ally of Europe's energy transition. As of today, 12 EU Member States have submitted their revised National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP) since the deadline in June. The updated plans add a new 90 GW of EU solar ambition, bringing the total target, for now, to 425 GW of solar by 2030.

New analysis from SolarPower Europe reveals that, with 12 submissions from EU countries, 15 EU countries have not met the 30 June deadline to submit their updated targets to the European Commission. 

An interim analysis of currently available NECPs reveals that 4 EU countries have already reached their set solar target for 2030. 19 countries will most likely reach their target within the next 5 years. The final 4 will likely reach their goals between 2027 and 2030.

According to SolarPower Europe, despite an average ambition increase of 63%, out of the 12 updated NECPs, 8 countries will reach their new 2030 target at least 3 years early. Notably, the Netherlands have reduced their target, meaning they will achieve their 2030 target in the course of next year.

"The European Commission has set a target of 750 GW by the same year. Modelling current installation trends, we can see reality already outstripping this level of ambition," SolarPower Europe said. And anticipates a most-likely scenario where over 900 GW of solar capacity will be installed in the EU by 2030.

Head of Market Intelligence at SolarPower Europe, Raffaele Rossi, said that "our latest analysis reveals that the way governments think about solar has definitively changed. However, given that the role of a target is to go beyond business-as-usual, and sketch out the plan for the new energy system, ambition is still falling short. Grid operators, citizens, businesses, and energy providers all need to be able to prepare for the reality of a solar and renewable based energy system.”