Key Takeaways from the ETIP PV Annual Conference 2025: Advancing Solar Innovation and Deployment in Europe

Solar Innovation in Action: Highlights from the ETIP PV Annual Conference 2025

On June 4, 2025, the European Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIP PV) marked its 20th Annual Conference in Brussels, themed “The Urgency of Now: Innovation in Making Deployment and Production Targets a Reality for Solar PV.” This event gathered over 100 stakeholders from the solar value chain, including industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers, to discuss strategies for achieving the EU’s ambitious targets of 720 GWdc of solar deployment and 30 GW of domestic manufacturing capacity by 2030.

The conference commenced with opening remarks from ETIP PV Chair Rutger Schlatmann, who highlighted the significant advancements in photovoltaic (PV) technology over the past twenty years. He emphasized that in these times of remarkable change, “PV can provide many of the solutions we need.” Following this, Vincent Berrutto, Head of Unit for Digitalisation, Competitiveness, Research and Innovation at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Energy, delivered a keynote address. He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to fostering innovation and competitiveness in the clean energy sector, stating, “Only by working together will we be able to create an energy landscape that is cleaner, more secure, and more competitive.”

In the first session, SolarPower Europe CEO Walburga Hemetsberger presented a keynote on the current state of PV deployment, manufacturing, and investment across Europe. While acknowledging the substantial progress made in recent years, she noted that challenges persist and innovation is crucial to overcoming them. These challenges include the necessity to increase battery storage capacity tenfold by 2030, advance flexible electrification, and secure funding for innovation. Hemetsberger remarked, “It is about solar plus batteries, because the solar system is increasingly a system that incorporates batteries. Solar plus batteries are often cheaper than fossil flexibility… We need to have 10 times more battery storage by 2030. This can provide us with the benefits of energy flexibility very quickly.”

A subsequent panel discussion, moderated by David Moser of the Becquerel Institute, included insights from Paula Dorado Miranda (DG ENER, European Commission), Ivona Kafedjiska (Helmholtz Berlin), Christian Breyer (LUT), and Nicola Baggio (FuturaSun). The panelists stressed the importance of harmonizing regulations across Member States and supporting strategic industries to enhance manufacturing and strengthen supply chain resilience.

The second session, moderated by Molly Morgan from CRU, examined the competitive dynamics within the PV value chain and related industries. Peter Fath from RCT Solutions delivered an engaging keynote that addressed competitiveness dynamics, blending elements of pessimism and hope for the future, while showcasing “how humans can shape the planet in a positive way.” This was followed by a panel discussion featuring Jennifer Karle (DG GROW, European Commission), Alden Lee (DAS Solar), Domenico Sartore (Ecoprogetti), Dominic Buchholz (Green Energy Venture), and Laura Miranda (Oxford PV). The discussions revolved around technological innovations, industry policy, and the strategic investments necessary for Europe to lead in PV.

The final session focused on the financial barriers hindering the advancement of next-generation PV solutions. Greg Arrowsmith from Eurec presented a keynote on the upcoming EU Competitiveness Fund, discussing its potential structure to effectively support innovation. Moderated by Delfina Munoz (CEA), the panel included Beatrice Coda (DG RTD, European Commission), Marina Foti (3Sun), Pablo Ortiz (Tecnalia), and Yannick Veschetti (Heliup). They explored the strategic application of the Innovation Fund and emerging FP10 opportunities, emphasizing the need to unlock funding, scale up innovative technologies, and reinforce Europe’s leadership in solar PV innovation.

The conference highlighted the urgent need to accelerate PV deployment and innovation by aligning technological advancements, supportive regulations, industrial capabilities, and a shared commitment to achieving Europe’s energy objectives.

At SolarPower Europe, we look forward to further discussions on solar research and innovation and to playing our part in advancing European solar R&I.

For more information on the ETIP PV Annual Conference 2025, please visit the ETIP PV website. Interested in participating in SolarPower Europe Workstreams? Learn more about membership benefits on our membership pages. Want to stay informed about solar energy developments? Follow us on social media.