EU solar plants generated 19.9 TWh of electricity in the first two and a half weeks of the conflict. Meeting that demand with gas-fired generation would have cost \u20ac1.9 billion. That is 32 percent more than the \u20ac6 billion the European Commission estimates was spent on fossil fuel imports in that period. Cumulative savings for 1\u201331 March have now reached \u20ac3.76 billion.<\/p>\n
Total benefits for the remainder of 2026 could reach \u20ac67.5 billion if gas prices rise above their March 2026 average. The research is based on fossil fuel pricing data from Rystad Energy, SolarPower Europe\u2019s Prime Market Research Partner. By the end of 2030, cumulative savings could climb to \u20ac170 billion, based on SolarPower Europe\u2019s Medium scenario, which falls short of the EU\u2019s 2030 solar target. A more ambitious strategy on both solar deployment and energy flexibility could further increase the returns.<\/p>\n
EU warned over shortfall in renewable energy raw materials<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cEurope is experiencing a second fossil fuel price shock in just four years. But the urgency seen in 2022 has given way to complacency. Solar deployment in the EU stagnated in 2024 and 2025 despite the huge costs caused by our energy dependence. This new data is a reminder of solar\u2019s role in Europe today and the scale of the future benefits for our security and economy,\u201d said Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe.<\/p>\n