Eastern Europe's solar surge: spotlight on Bulgaria, Romania, and Czechia
In 2023, each of these Eastern European nations experienced substantial growth, collectively constituting more than 7% of the solar market. The future also looks promising, with all countries expected to consistently remain above the 1 GW threshold. The combined annual installation is projected to more than double between 2023 and 2027, from just above 3 GW to close to 7 GW.
Both Czech Republic and Romania had previously witnessed annual additions of GW-scale solar capacity during the initial phases of the EU solar boom, occurring in 2010 and 2013, respectively.
With an annual average of sunshine ranging between 2,000 and 2,600 hours across various Bulgarian regions, photovoltaic energy contributed 41% to the energy supply mix during sunlit days in 2023. Ongoing technological advancements, coupled with decreasing prices of PV modules, position Bulgarian PV for significant success
Achieving the 1 GW target for new solar capacity on the grid in 2023 and bringing the total PV fleet close to 3 GW puts Bulgaria on track to fulfill its 3.2 GW NECP targets for 2030 seven years ahead of schedule. Moreover, estimates from the Bulgarian Association for Production, Storage, and Trading of Electricity (APSTE) indicate that Bulgaria has tripled its installed solar capacity since 2020, with a projected annual growth of 450 to 750 MW over the next three to four years.
With an annual average of sunshine ranging between 2,000 and 2,600 hours across various Bulgarian regions, photovoltaic energy contributed 41% to the energy supply mix during sunlit days in 2023. Ongoing technological advancements, coupled with decreasing prices of PV modules, position Bulgarian PV for significant success
Achieving the 1 GW target for new solar capacity on the grid in 2023 and bringing the total PV fleet close to 3 GW puts Bulgaria on track to fulfill its 3.2 GW NECP targets for 2030 seven years ahead of schedule. Moreover, estimates from the Bulgarian Association for Production, Storage, and Trading of Electricity (APSTE) indicate that Bulgaria has tripled its installed solar capacity since 2020, with a projected annual growth of 450 to 750 MW over the next three to four years.
In 2023, Romania also witnessed a record-breaking year for solar, adding over 1 GW of new capacity through distributed generation and utility-scale projects. This marked a 308% increase compared to the capacity deployed in 2022, establishing solar PV as the fastest-growing power source in the country. By the end of 2023, the cumulative PV capacity, encompassing distributed and utility-scale installations, reached 2.85 GW, generating over 2.5 TWh, contributing approximately 5% to the total electricity production.
The distributed generation segment played a pivotal role in driving impressive developments in the Romanian PV sector. The market is currently undergoing a new boom phase, fuelled by the prevailing security context, the imperative of the green transition, and a favourable permitting framework. Despite challenges such as regulatory uncertainty, administrative barriers, market fragmentation, and grid integration issues, the outlook for PV in Romania indicates sustained development supported by European funds and the emergence of new business models.
Finally, Czechia is also experiencing a second solar boom, with the total added PV capacity in 2023 surpassing 1 GW, marking Czechia's return to the GW-market stage after 13 years. The country, having experienced a solar boom in the past, was one of the first significant PV markets in Europe. Effective subsidy schemes and the energy crisis have served as drivers for the current growth in solar capacity.
We express our sincere gratitude to the esteemed authors who contributed their expertise to the EU Market Outlook for Solar Power 2023-2027 chapter focusing on the three countries: Mariyana Yaneva, Policy and Communications Director, Association for Production, Storage and Trading of Electricity (APSTE); Irene Mihai, Policy Officer, Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association (RPIA) and Jan Krčmář, Executive Director, Czech Solar Association.
