Solar photovoltaic electricity production in the European Union 2012-2023

In 2023, the European Union had a solar photovoltaic electricity generation of 243.5 terawatt hours. Since 2012, solar power production in the region has more than tripled. Germany, Spain, and Italy are the countries with the largest electricity production from solar photovoltaics among EU members. Together, they accounted for almost 60 percent of the region’s solar PV generation. Germany alone generated more than 61 gigawatt hours of solar electricity in 2023. 

Solar PV capacity in the EU

Aside from being the biggest producer, Germany is the European country with the largest photovoltaic capacity. In 2022, Germany had more than 67 gigawatts of cumulative solar capacity installed across the country. However, in terms of photovoltaic capacity per capita, the Netherlands ranked first that year with roughly 1,070 watts per inhabitant. Overall, the European Union had a total photovoltaic capacity of 195 gigawatts, an increase of 20 percent in comparison with the previous year.

The European photovoltaic manufacturing landscape

At the beginning of 2023, there were 54 solar module manufacturers operating in the European Union and Norway. In total, the region had a module manufacturing capacity of 9.2 gigawatts. Although the industry is currently small, European companies plan to increase their production of solar components. Today, Asian manufacturers dominate the solar PV landscape, accounting for more than 90 percent of the global photovoltaic equipment production capacity. China alone produces more than three-quarters of these components. In 2022, the Asian country reached a module production of roughly 288 gigawatts.