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Solar power growth is accelerating, but Europe’s grid limits output

Europe faces grid congestion and storage shortages, which can lead to energy waste, negative prices, and even blackout risks as more solar comes online.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Energy Transition

Solar power is expanding rapidly worldwide as solar manufacturers benefit from cheaper photovoltaic panels, much of it linked to increased supply from China, driving record levels of panel additions, according to OilPrice.

The outlet notes that the pace of solar growth is uneven by region. Some of the world’s poorer countries are leading the solar revolution, while some richer regions and early clean energy adopters are lagging.

In Europe, OilPrice attributes the slowdown largely to constraints in the energy grid. During peak production, the grid is described as congested and lacking sufficient energy storage, leading to energy wastage, negative energy prices, and the threat of grid failure.

OilPrice also says European leaders are racing to add storage capacity to address these issues, warning that adding more solar to an overloaded grid could intensify problems until capacity improves.

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