In a turbulent geopolitical and economic environment, solar energy is rapidly becoming the most reliable and strategic cornerstone of Europe’s transition to security and competitiveness. This was the dominant theme that emerged from the SolarPower Summit 2025, held in Brussels last week. Leading policymakers, industrial stakeholders, and energy experts convened to reinforce Europe’s commitment to renewables as both an economic and security imperative.
Security and stability through renewables
Throughout the day, security – in all its dimensions – was at the center of every conversation. In her keynote address, MEP Andrea Wechsler spoke plainly: “Solar has been a success in Europe. Now we see challenges, and we turn to flexibility. That needs to be the core focus of our policies – flexibility, grid development, storage.”
The new strategic triad that defines the solar future of Europe was made explicit by Aristotelis Chantavas, President of SolarPower Europe: “Solar. Storage. Flexibility. These are the building blocks to ensure Europe’s security, competitiveness, and resilience.” His speech delivered a firm rebuttal to those calling for a slowdown in the transition or a return to fossil imports. “Solar is powering the equivalent of over 80 million European homes, today. The fossil fuel age is over in Europe […] as, of last year, we now get more of our electricity from solar than from coal. Renewables provide more of our electricity than gas, solar panels protect our farms from extreme heat and deliver new revenue stream,” he declared. “Renewables are Europe’s one way to energy freedom.”
In a bold reframing of energy policy, Chantavas tied renewables to defense: “Lowering emissions is a defense strategy. Less dependence on fossils is a defense strategy. Climate action is a defense strategy.” As the European continent continues to face the dual threats of energy insecurity and climate disruption, solar presents itself as the most reliable weapon in the EU’s arsenal.
Europe is investable — and leading
One of the sharpest interventions came from Laura Cozzi, Director for Sustainability, Technology and Outlook at the International Energy Agency (IEA). She addressed what she called a recurring “closed-door narrative”: that “Europe has become uninvestable.”
Her answer was unequivocal: “Really? 65 GW of solar was installed last year in Europe. That is not an uninvestable continent.” The IEA’s latest Global Energy Review confirms this trend: “Last year, for the first time, solar produced more additional energy globally than oil. This is not a trend. This is transformation. Solar is the queen – and the numbers prove it.”
Cozzi reminded the audience that despite the dominance of Chinese manufacturing in solar and battery supply chains, “Europe is the second largest clean energy market globally, after China. We are not small.” With targeted policies, Europe has the potential to balance its industrial ecosystem and reclaim strategic parts of the clean energy value chain.
In her words, the market is far from saturated: “From 700 billion dollars today, the clean tech market is expected to reach 2 trillion dollars by 2035. This is a huge market opportunity.” Batteries and hydrogen were two areas she highlighted as especially promising: “Our analysis shows that Europe’s battery project pipeline already matches 2030 demand. And in hydrogen, the battle is wide open. Europe should push ahead.”
Made in Europe, powered by Europe
Wechsler emphasized the political dimension of restoring European manufacturing: “We need to refocus on the 450 million people and the amazing skills we have in the European Union… The Clean Industrial Deal is crucial, and so is the Net Zero Industry Act. This isn’t only about jobs and competitiveness. It’s about energy security, independence from Chinese supply chains.”
To that end, she called for investment simplification, streamlined permitting, and long-term consistency in policy. “Sometimes I dream of an energy omnibus,” she said, half-joking, half-serious, hinting to the kind of legislative alignment that can give investors the boring predictability they crave.
Indeed, this idea of Europe as a “boringly predictable economic space”—reliable, transparent, governed by rule of law and long-term contracts—surfaced repeatedly throughout the conversation. It is precisely this predictability that makes Europe an attractive destination for capital in a world of volatility.
The flexibility revolution
The core message of the summit was clear: Europe is entering the “Solar Flex Era,” and flexibility—across technologies, grids, and business models—is the engine of the continent’s energy future.
The launch of the “Flexible Buildings, Resilient Grids” report offered a roadmap to integrate demand-side flexibility through smart technologies. Michael Schmela, SolarPower Europe’s Director of Market Intelligence, explained: “To unlock rooftop solar potential, we must set price signals that incentivise flexible behaviour and efficient grid-use. We must also tailor technology support schemes.”
And the industrial case is compelling. According to SolarPower Europe’s modelling, an energy system based on renewables and flexibility will reduce day-ahead electricity prices by 25% by 2030. Battery storage, in particular, was singled out as the “absolute shortcut to lower, less volatile energy prices.”
Held at the Albert Hall, this year’s edition marked the 40th anniversary of SolarPower Europe, at a time when, as CEO Walburga Hemetsberger noted, “Europe is at a crossroad. And there is only one direction: Fast forward Europe’s security, competitiveness and climate action.”
The conversations at the SolarPower Summit 2025 laid out a clear roadmap for member states—but it is up to each country to translate ambition into national action. For Romania, the opportunity is not just to keep pace, but to position itself as a regional leader in solar-driven flexibility and clean tech manufacturing.
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In a second article following our presence at SolarPower Summit 2025, we explore what Romanian authorities must do to create an investable framework—and where local businesses can seize new growth opportunities in this fast-changing European energy landscape.
