The Role of the European Green Deal for the Photovoltaic Market Growth in the European Union

Since the introduction of the first European Renewable Energy Directive in 2009, PV installations have significantly increased to reach over 165 GWp in the European Union at the end of 2021. The new Green Deal, endorsed by the European Council in December 2020 set new targets for the GHG reductions until 2030, which already now led to a significant growth of the photovoltaic market in the European Union. What are the opportunities and challenges for the further deployment of solar photovoltaics? The lessons learned during the last decade highlight the importance of legal and regulatory continuity and reliability to ensure investor confidence. Will the Green Deal not only lead to a growth in PV capacity but to a revival of an European solar cell and module manufacturing industry?