Rooftop solar installation: 40-60% decline in some CEE countries
SolarPower Europe forecasts that 1.4 per cent less solar capacity will be installed in the European Union compared to the previous year. The downturn is particularly linked to a declining residential rooftop segment.
Target for 2030 at risk
According to the mid-year analysis of the association, after ten years, 2025 could be the first year in which a downturn is expected in the EU solar market. Despite forecasted negative growth, years of solar boom mean that the EU will meet the RePower EU 2025 solar target of 400 gigawatts (GW); by the end of the year, the bloc should host 402 GW. However, the slowdown put the target for 2030 at risk. At the current deployment level, only 723 GW would be reached, instead of 750 GW.
Czechia, Hungary and Poland: huge slowdown in rooftop installations
In traditionally strong residential rooftop solar markets, like Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, and Hungary, households are now postponing installations. For most of these markets, the withdrawal of incentive schemes without adequate replacements is resulting in a residential rooftop market collapse of over 60 per cent compared to 2023. Similarly, Poland, Spain, and Germany are experiencing a decline of over 40 per cent.
The new analysis predicts that utility-scale solar is expected to continue growing in the EU this year. This segment remained relatively resilient, driven mainly by auctions.
Drop in PPAs
Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (cPPAs) have been a key driver of utility-scale solar in recent years, giving developers and companies long-term price certainty. However, in 2025, falling electricity prices have reduced buyers’ incentive to sign long-term deals. New solar PPA signings have dropped by 41 per cent between the first and second quarter of this year.
Original source: CEENERGYNEWS
