As solar energy gains popularity more and more countries are beginning to realise that their governments have to make the acces to renewable energy more affordable and easier.

Europe has about 3,000 MW of photovoltaic capacity which according to the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (E.P.I.A.) is sure to grow to triple that amount by 2012. Europe´s electrical needs are only filled by 1% with photovoltaics and due to the growing amount of electricity that is demanded by consumers this percentage is not estimated to grow much.

Europe´s biggest photovoltaic producer is Germany but Spain has increased the capacity in the last two years. Spain´s government is now promoting cost-effective rooftop installations with maximum installed capacity of 10MW which is to help expand the photovoltaic energy resource from farming communities and to bring them onto the roofs of the spanish people.

Other countries such as France, Greece and Italy have become aware of the great potential that photovoltaic has to offer and are now joing the building competition. With every country that starts to promote renewable energy the more awareness there is. This way the usage of fossil fuels is cut and with that the amount of co2. Due to the strong support of the public in countries in Europe photovoltaics will be made competitive to conventional energy resources in all of Europe by 2025.


Jason Grace
BasoTec Internet Limited
Technologiepark 13
33104 Paderborn
Germany