In response to the recent Iberian power outage, leading solar and renewables associations defended the role of photovoltaics and stressed their contribution to grid stability. “To be clear, photovoltaics were not the cause of the power outage,” said UNEF (Spanish Solar PV Association), APREN (Portuguese Association of Renewable Energy), SolarPower Europe, the Global Solar Council and Global Renewables Alliance in a joint statement.
The Spanish government’s investigation confirmed that managing an electricity grid is a complex, multifaceted task of critical social importance.
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The power outage on the Iberian Peninsula must serve as a lesson to us. Solar energy already has the capacity to regulate voltage, but regulations did not allow its use,” the associations emphasised. This makes accelerated investment in grid stability and system flexibility all the more important – particularly through grid-forming inverters and battery storage. These technologies are already available and are crucial for maintaining stable voltage levels, managing fluctuations, and ensuring energy security from renewable sources.
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Last year, Spain ranked 14th in Europe with less than 250 MWh of newly installed batteries, compared to 9 GW of new solar installations, the associations note. Almost all new systems were smaller batteries rather than utility-scale projects. Even before the blackout, the Spanish market had recognised the clear need for more battery storage and flexibility. With the revival of the utility-scale storage segment, Spain is now expected to become one of the five largest battery markets in Europe by 2025. “It is now up to the authorities to ensure that the industry can meet these expectations,” the associations demand.
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Solar energy is the fastest-growing energy technology in history. It is now the cheapest energy source in most regions and offers a crucial lifeline to European and global industry amid structurally high energy costs. “Solar energy cannot simply be switched off and therefore contributes inherently to our energy security. According to the International Energy Agency, solar energy will be the world's largest source of electricity by 2033. Solar energy, renewable energies and electrification remain the way forward for Europe and the world,” the associations stated. (hcn)
