EU Energy Ministers Recognise Role of Renewables in EU Energy Security
On June 16th, in Luxembourg, EU energy ministers attended a meeting of the Energy Council. Ministers discussed how Europe should reinforce energy security and strengthen the Energy Union. Prior to the meeting, SolarPower Europe and 32 national associations published a joint letter calling on ministers to focus the EU’s energy security strategy on flexibility, homegrown solar manufacturing and cybersecurity. SolarPower Europe has issued the following statement in reaction.
“Energy ministers are right to reiterate that accelerating the energy transition enhances Europe’s energy security. They are right that – in their words – clean energy will not only drive down energy costs but also reduce EU dependency on fossil fuels and limit our exposure to their price volatility. Fossil fuel dependency is the Achilles Heel of the EU’s economy and security. Unfortunately, the Ministers’ conclusions miss the opportunity to turn the analysis into targeted actions, especially on flexibility and clean tech supply chains”, Dries Acke, Deputy CEO of SolarPower Europe said.
“As stated in our joint letter with 30+ national solar associations from across Europe, the European Commission should now present a Flexibility Strategy and new funding for strategic clean tech manufacturing, like solar PV and batteries. We do commend the Council on its call for strengthening Europe’s energy cybersecurity architecture. As our landmark report urges, we need more action to secure decentralised assets, namely: industry-specific standards and limiting remote-controllability of PV inverters,” he added.
Ahead of the Energy Council meeting, the European and national solar PV associations have urged EU Energy Ministers to centre the EU’s energy security strategy around its most reliable assets: homegrown renewables, storage and electrification.
The European solar sector has urged EU energy Ministers to make a clear call on the European Commission to take action on three clear areas:
- Grids & Flexibility
Put forward a Flexibility Strategy that boosts energy storage and demand-side flexibility, complementing the action on grids that is already planned for via the Grids Package.
- Solar Manufacturing
Ramp-up CAPEX & OPEX support for scaling up clean tech manufacturing, especially for solar PV and battery storage, in the EU in the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework.
- Cybersecurity
Develop and mandate industry-specific cybersecurity controls, for example via a standard under the Cyber Resilience Act, for securing remote-controlled solar PV infrastructure.
Key notes
- ‘Solutions for PV risks to grid stability’ is a sector-leading report written by DNV and commissioned by SolarPower Europe. The paper was published in April 2025.
- Ahead of the 16 June EU Energy Council, the European solar sector issued a joint letter to the continent’s energy ministers emphasizing that a faster energy transition means strong energy security.
- Council Conclusions are non-legislative documents adopted by the Council of the EU. They give a mandate to the European Commission to work on selected topics and put forward legislative proposals if deemed necessary.
About SolarPower Europe
SolarPower Europe is the award-winning link between policymakers and the solar PV value chain. Its mission is to ensure solar becomes Europe’s leading energy source by 2030. As the member-led association for the European solar PV sector, SolarPower Europe represents over 320 organisations across the entire solar sector. With solar sitting on the horizon of unprecedented expansion, they work together with our members to create the necessary regulatory and business environment to take solar to the next level.
