Markets & Policy
In highly regulated energy markets, policy decisions can make or break new technologies, strategies, and even entire industries.
Support from policymakers, in the form of procurement exercises, priority dispatch, tax incentives and a wealth of other instruments, has been vital to the global solar industry’s success, and new mechanisms to support growth in energy storage are an increasingly important part of the story today.
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Latest News
The Iberian BESS paradox
On a Monday in April 2025, 60 million people across Spain and Portugal lost power. The blackout was no minor technical accident, and it exposed the Achilles’ heel of the Iberian energy transition. The system collapsed because it lacked sufficient storage, because synchronous generators were being displaced, and because the interconnection with France remains a bottleneck.
Jul 24, 2026
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UK solar capacity hits 22.8 GW as market prepares for plug-in launch
The UK added over 2 GW of solar capacity in the 12 months to the end of June 2026. With new plug-in solar regulations soon to take effect, a UK wholesaler boss tells pv magazine plug-in solar is a great opportunity to further grow the market.
Solar’s share of EU electricity demand tops 20% for three consecutive months
Data compiled by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE shows photovoltaics supplied more than 20% of EU electricity demand in May, June and July for the first time. Latvia set a new EU record, with solar meeting 49% of the country’s electricity demand in June.
Europe’s heatwave brings high irradiance as smoke, dust impact southern PV systems
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that Europe’s July heatwave led to positive irradiance anomalies across western and northern Europe, while wildfires in France and Spain and Saharan dust outbreaks increased the risk of panel soiling in the south of the continent.
New Zealand looks to legalize plug-in solar
A solar regulatory review from New Zealand’s Ministry for Regulation suggests legalizing plug-in solar, approving installations under 10 kW by the next working day and allowing accredited installers to sign off on an installation less than 100 kW in size without an inspection.
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