In 2018, the EU added 8 GW of solar power generation, a year-on-year increase of 36%

According to SolarPower Europe, the European solar industry association, the EU installed about 8.
0 GW of solar power systems in 2018, a 36%
year-on-year increase from 5.
9 GW of new solar energy added to the EU28 grid in 2017.

Solar installations across Europe grew by around 20% in 2018 to 11.
0 GW, up from 9.
2 GW
the previous year.

Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, said: "It's great to see Europe fully embracing solar
energy again.
Solar energy is the most popular energy source among EU citizens, the most versatile and often the lowest cost source of generation, and as costs come down, we are just standing at the beginning
of a long-term upward trend in the development of solar energy in Europe.
”

Aurélie Beauvais, Head of Policy at SolarPower Europe, commented: "Over the next two years, we will see strong demand
for solar in Europe.
One of the main reasons for this is the upcoming EU 2020 target, in which many member states will opt for low-cost solar to meet their obligations
.

Beauvais added: "The EU has completed the first step, which is to ensure a very aggressive solar framework by removing trade measures on solar panels and through a clean energy package, with this phase to achieve significant growth
in solar energy.
Now, EU member states must implement the right national climate and energy plans to sustain this solar boom
.
”

Europe's largest solar market in 2018 was Germany, with 2.
96 GW of new grid-connected capacity, up 68%
from the 1.
76 GW installed in 2017.
It was followed by Turkey with 1.
64 GW installed, down 37% year-on-year, mainly due to lower
demand due to the country's financial crisis.
As a rising solar "market star", the Netherlands was named the third largest solar market in Europe in 2018, adding about 1.
4 GW, compared to 0.
77 GW in 2017, entering the "solar gigawatt club"
for the first time.

Michael Schmela, Executive Consultant and Head of Market Intelligence at SolarPower Europe, said: "While the EU28 solar market grew by an impressive 36% in 2018, a sudden demand pull from China late last year led to a shortage of high-quality panels in Europe, forcing some developers to delay completing projects
until 2019.
However, the good news is that 2019 will be a good year for solar power in Europe
.
”