As one of the fastest-growing solar markets in Europe, with Greece alone expected to add 10.9GW between 2024 and 2027, Southern Europe is poised to become a regional, if not potentially global leader in PV deployment. To make this happen, however, we must consider what changes are expected in the market as we approach the 2023 target deadline, and how are policy, regulations and legislation evolving to accommodate.

Greece’s revised National Energy & Climate Plan (NECP) targets 13.4 GW of installed PV capacity by 2030, nearly doubling the previous target of 7.7 GW​. The European Commission has approved Greece’s request to offer financial aid of €1 billion for two landmark renewable energy projects with integrated storage, set to be completed by mid-2025​. Greece added a record 1.6 GW of new solar capacity in 2023, bringing the total installed capacity to 7.1 GW. The country aims to more than triple its installed capacity to 29.6 GW by the end of the decade, offering a 5GW annual solar and wind market.

This session will start with a short presentation from Stelios Psomas, Policy Advisor at HELAPCO, then allow for discussion between the other speakers. 

• What further government support is available to boost growth and achieve targets?
• How have simplified authorisation processes affected the deployment and grid connection queue?
• What can we expect from the upcoming renewable auctions, where does PV fit in?
• Exploring the expectations of Greece’s 2024 Energy Auctions; a new development under the European Union’s cross-border energy trade for the EEA.

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• Integrated Traceability System and Sustainability Strategy

• State of play for rooftop solar in Southern Europe now and growth trends
• Examples of successful rooftop solar implementations in Southern Europe
• Market design limitations impacting energy sharing and self-consumption
• Investing in grid infrastructure to accommodate increased solar capacity
• Ensuring national frameworks support energy sharing and collective self-consumption

A recurring problem with solar power production is sourcing suitable land to install projects. Agrivoltaics offers the opportunity to work with farmers to install PV modules on their land, especially pastoral land where animals graze. If done correctly this provides a win-win scenario where both parties can make additional revenue from this land. Which monitoring and maintenance tools could you implement to ensure this?

Explore the integration of solar power with lithium-ion battery storage systems and its implications for grid stability and energy reliability:

• What are the benefits of supplying more consistent energy to the grid?
• What revenue models are there for co-located solar and storage?
• What steps need to be taken to roll out co-located solar and storage across Southern Europe?
• How will storage, combined with solar, help with risk management and investment security?

• How early engagement with local authorities, and understanding regional regulations can help streamline these processes and avoid delays
• Preparing an effective plan for collaboration and communication with all stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, and industry partners
• Early and continuous engagement with local communities to build trust and address any concerns or objections they may have about solar projects

• What are the main issues in establishing a long-term supply chain in Southern Europe?
• What do procurement professionals need to consider in terms of ESG?
• What complexities do you need to consider for the Southern European region specifically?
• How to evaluate potential complexities when operating in new markets

Please get in touch at lss@solarmedia.co.uk  for partnership opportunities.

The Spanish government has outlined aims to achieve 81% renewable energy penetration by 2030, of which, solar PV and wind will play a huge role. The National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) targets 6.3 GW of new annual solar installations. In 2024, a new incentive scheme was launched with a budget of USD 1.24 billion, funded by the Plan for Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience (PRTR), to boost the production of clean energy technologies.

• In 2023, Spain installed 5.59 GW of new solar PV capacity, bringing the total installed capacity to 25.54 GW, a 28% increase on 2022 figures, which regions are leading the way?
• There is 55 GW of projects with grid connection secured, what is the progress on these and what are the risks to delivery?
• Rapid deployment is leading to power price cannibalization, how is that affecting project economics?
• What are the prospects for solar+storage?

According to Turkey’s National Energy Plan, the installed power capacity in 2020 was 95.9GW, and it will increase to 189.7GW by 2035. The share of renewables in the installed capacity, which was 52% in 2020, will reach 64.7% by 2035. Solar PV will play a key role in supplying power in Turkey by 2035, as its capacity will increase to 52.9GW, promising a 5GW annual market for PV and wind.

• Turkey’s government has introduced new feed-in tariffs (FITs) to promote renewable energy projects, including solar, how will these work?
• Insight into project pipeline in Turkey – where are the investable locations?
• Turkey plays host to the world’s largest rooftop solar project initiated by Tosyalı Holding, how else might the C&I space grow in terms of PPAs or installations
• How Turkey is promoting a strong local manufacturing base, with around 8GW of annual production capacity
• Grid investment and infrastructure challenges

Examples and practices regarding the environmental and social impact on PV Projects.

• How are macroeconomic factors affecting the investment opportunities in Southern Europe?
• Understand the financial landscape for new solar PV projects in Southern Europe, including investment trends, risk management, and funding opportunities.
• With Greece and the rest of the Southern European region now attracting more development interest and investment, how can you stand out in a competitive market?
• How can you make your projects more attractive to funds and investors?
• How to mitigate risk for financiers unfamiliar or uncertain about the market.

As we move away from fossil fuels towards the “electrification of everything” how can we accurately forecast demand in the region? This session will unpack:

• Where is inward investing changing domestic industry and their power needs?
• How can investors plan ahead to meet these needs?
• How is the power mix expected to evolve?

The chosen offtake structure can impact the profitability of PV projects and the feasibility of obtaining project finance. This panel discusses the merits and drawbacks of different offtake structures like feed-in-tariff, PPAs, CPPAs, and merchant offtake in the context of:

• The level and length of offtake agreements
• The risk appetite for the merchant revenue
• What are offtakers from varying sectors looking for?

• This session will allow the audience to split into smaller groups to discuss key countries of interest. Each table will host up to 8 participants to discuss the latest trends, policies and investment opportunities in key markets:
  • Portugal: Scaling Solar for 2030 and Beyond Explore Portugal’s ambitious plan to reach 20.4 GW of solar PV capacity by 2030, focusing on decentralized production and green hydrogen integration to achieve carbon neutrality.
  • Spain: Leading Solar Innovations and Investments Discuss Spain’s target of over 76 GW of solar PV by 2030 and the strategic partnerships driving large-scale solar projects, enhancing the country’s renewable energy landscape​ (PV Tech)​.
  • Italy: Accelerating Solar Growth Amid Regulatory Reforms Examine Italy’s advancements in solar energy, highlighting ongoing projects and regulatory changes aimed at increasing solar capacity and attracting investments.
  • Greece: Overcoming Barriers to Solar Expansion Review Greece’s efforts to expand solar capacity, focusing on regulatory improvements and strategies to overcome bureaucratic and grid connection challenges.
  • North Macedonia: Renewable Energy Transition Evaluate North Macedonia’s solar energy projects and government support aimed at reducing fossil fuel dependency and increasing renewable energy share.
  • Turkey: Harnessing Solar Potential Discuss Turkey’s rapid expansion of solar energy capacity, driven by incentives and support mechanisms that promote both large-scale and decentralized solar projects.
  • Bulgaria: Stimulating Investment into Bulgarian Solar Analyze Bulgaria’s efforts to boost solar energy, focusing on regulatory improvements and strategies to stimulate rooftop and utility-scale solar projects​.
  • Romania: Explore Romania’s evolving solar market, focusing on the country’s plans to expand solar capacity by 2024. Discuss Romania’s strategic efforts to modernize its grid infrastructure and integrate advanced solar technologies to enhance energy production. Participants will examine recent policy reforms aimed at simplifying regulatory processes and attracting investment into the solar sector.

• Grids need their capacity to be increased and modernized to handle the upcoming increase of renewable energy capacity being connected. What is being reformed and modernized to better suit the energy mix?
• How much renewable energy is set to be connected to the grid in the coming years, and how can it all be done?
• What can we learn from cross-border collaborations such as the EuroAsia Interconnector?
• What is the latest update from the grid companies regarding investment and cross-border connectivity, and for autonomous islands that also require upgraded connections?
• What can developers and asset owners do to boost grid reform and changes?