A new analysis suggests that faster deployment of solar power and batteries could nearly halve operating costs of the EU electricity system by 2030, with significant economic and energy security benefits for the bloc.
A faster build-out of solar power and battery storage could almost halve the operating cost of the EU electricity system by 2030, according to a new SolarPower Europe analysis modelled by Rystad Energy, which argues that the bloc’s biggest obstacle is no longer technology but policy and market design.
The report sets out a stark contrast between what is likely to happen under current deployment trends and what could be achieved if solar, storage and electrification were pushed much harder. In the baseline case, the EU still falls short of its 2030 clean power ambitions, reaching 574GW of solar against a 600GW target and 344GW of wind against a 425GW goal. That would leave the bloc 19% below target, SolarPower Europe says.
Its higher-ambition “Solar+” pathway paints a very different picture. Under that scenario, solar capacity rises to 732GW by 2030 and battery storage reaches 600GWh, up from just 77GWh in 2025. The association says that would lift renewables to 68% of electricity generation, close to the European Commission’s indicative 69% benchmark.
The economic case is the report’s central message. SolarPower Europe says system operating costs would fall by 49% versus 2025, delivering annual savings of €55 billion. Average day-ahead wholesale prices across selected EU markets would drop by 14% to €63.4/MWh, with Germany and Poland seeing the sharpest declines. Price swings would also ease sharply, with four-hour spreads falling by 42%.
The report also pushes back against the idea that more solar necessarily weakens project revenues through cannibalisation. It finds that pairing PV with battery storage lifts capture prices by 73% on average across selected markets compared with standalone solar, with capture rates reaching 84%.
Energy security is presented as another major dividend. SolarPower Europe says PV avoided €27.4 billion in gas import costs in 2025 alone. Under the Solar+ scenario, annual savings would rise to €53.3 billion by 2030, with cumulative avoided gas spending of €223 billion over the 2026-2030 period.
The organisation is calling for an EU Flexibility Strategy, a dedicated battery storage action plan aligned with the bloc’s 200GW storage target for 2030, and a coordinated electrification plan. In its view, the main barriers are regulatory and structural, not technical.
The latest study continues a line of SolarPower Europe analysis that has grown more urgent as solar additions have accelerated while grid bottlenecks and market constraints have tightened. The group says the EU installed 65.1GW of solar in 2025, but that more than 120GW of renewable capacity is now exposed to grid-related risk across the bloc. It also notes that European solar manufacturing remains well behind industrial targets, adding another layer of strategic concern.
- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/05/05/eu-solar-and-storage-push-could-cut-power-system-costs-by-nearly-half/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.solarpowereurope.org/press-releases/eu-countries-solar-targets-for-2030-jump-by-63-but-reality-still-outstrips-ambition – In August 2023, SolarPower Europe analysed the revised National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of 12 EU member states, revealing a 63% increase in solar targets for 2030, aiming for 425 GW. Despite this ambition, the analysis suggests that the EU is on track to miss both its 2030 solar and wind capacity targets under current deployment conditions, with a projected shortfall of 19%.
- https://www.solarpowereurope.org/insights/outlooks/solar-an-eu-pathway-to-achieve-renewable-targets-price-affordability-and-energy-security – In May 2026, SolarPower Europe released the ‘Solar+’ report, modelling two scenarios for the EU’s electricity system by 2030: a business-as-usual trajectory and a higher-ambition ‘Solar+’ scenario. The ‘Solar+’ scenario, which accelerates solar PV, battery storage, and electrification, projects reaching 732 GW of solar capacity and 600 GWh of battery storage energy capacity by 2030, nearly an eightfold increase compared to 77 GWh in 2025.
- https://www.solarpowereurope.org/press-releases/landmark-eu-solar-strategy-solar-power-europe-response – In 2020, the European Commission set a 600 GWac target for EU solar by 2030, equivalent to 750 GWdc. This target, higher than SolarPower Europe’s Global Market Outlook projections of 672 GWdc by the end of the decade, represents a 43% increase from initial proposals of 420 GWac. The strategy aims to double the share of wind and solar energy in power production capacities from 33% to 67% by 2030.
- https://www.solarpowereurope.org/insights/outlooks/eu-solar-market-outlook-2025-2030 – In December 2025, SolarPower Europe released the ‘EU Solar Market Outlook 2025-2030’, providing a comprehensive forecast and analysis of the solar power sector in the European Union. The report includes an analysis of key factors influencing the solar business case, insights into topics like auctions, flexibility, battery storage, and jobs, and updates on EU solar manufacturing in 2025, including the Net-Zero Industry Act status.
- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/05/05/eu-solar-and-storage-push-could-cut-power-system-costs-by-nearly-half/ – A scenario analysis by SolarPower Europe, modelled by Rystad Energy, finds that accelerating PV and battery storage deployment could save the European Union €223 billion in gas imports between 2026 and 2030 and reduce wholesale electricity prices by 14% compared with 2025 levels. The analysis compares a business-as-usual base case with a higher-ambition ‘Solar+’ scenario, highlighting the potential benefits of increased solar and storage deployment.
- https://www.renewableinstitute.org/eight-eu-members-on-track-for-2030-solar-power-targets/ – A report from SolarPower Europe revealed that only 8 of 27 EU member states are on track to meet their 2030 solar power targets. The EU National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP) required members to submit applications for their planned developments of solar power. Out of the 27 states, only 12 submitted their plans, with 8 of them being on track for the deadline of 2030.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The article was published on 5 May 2026, and the information aligns with the latest available data, indicating high freshness. ([solarpowereurope.org](https://www.solarpowereurope.org/press-releases/new-report-solar-and-storage-would-slash-eu-power-system-operating-costs-in-half-by-2030?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, and Sonja Risteska, Head of the Battery Storage Europe Platform. These quotes are consistent with those found in the original press release, suggesting they are accurately attributed. ([solarpowereurope.org](https://www.solarpowereurope.org/press-releases/new-report-solar-and-storage-would-slash-eu-power-system-operating-costs-in-half-by-2030?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The primary source is a press release from SolarPower Europe, a reputable industry association. The article also references data from Rystad Energy, an independent energy research firm. However, the reliance on a press release may introduce bias, as it is promotional material. ([solarpowereurope.org](https://www.solarpowereurope.org/press-releases/new-report-solar-and-storage-would-slash-eu-power-system-operating-costs-in-half-by-2030?utm_source=openai))
Plausibility check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about potential cost reductions and increased renewable energy penetration are plausible and supported by existing industry trends. However, the exact figures and projections should be interpreted with caution, as they are based on specific modeling scenarios. ([solarpowereurope.org](https://www.solarpowereurope.org/press-releases/new-report-solar-and-storage-would-slash-eu-power-system-operating-costs-in-half-by-2030?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article provides a timely and plausible summary of a recent press release from SolarPower Europe, supported by data from Rystad Energy. However, the heavy reliance on a single source and the potential for bias in the press release warrant a medium confidence level. Editors should consider seeking additional independent verification before publication.
