The Solar Quality Summit Europe 2025, co-organised by SolarPower Europe and Intersolar, has set the stage for a pivotal shift in the solar industry. The event, held from 18-19 February, brought together key players from the Operation and Maintenance (O&M), Asset Management, and Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) communities to tackle the pressing issue of solar project quality. The summit’s insights are poised to reshape the sector’s trajectory, emphasizing the critical role of quality assurance in achieving Europe’s climate and energy goals.
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, and Markus Elsaesser, CEO of Solar Promotion GmbH, kicked off the event with a compelling message: solar power is not just a climate solution but a strategic asset for Europe’s competitiveness and security. This perspective underscores the need for robust quality assurance measures to ensure the long-term viability and efficiency of solar projects. Hemetsberger’s words set the tone for the summit, emphasizing that delivering on climate targets necessitates a commitment to quality.
The first day’s panel discussions delved into the costs and benefits of quality in solar PV. Kate Blades, Head of Quality at Lightsource bp, highlighted the preventive approach to quality management, asserting that while quality is an investment, it yields significant returns and a competitive edge. This philosophy is crucial as the solar industry scales up, with digital technologies and evolving best practices playing pivotal roles.
SolarPower Europe launched its O&M Best Practice Guidelines Version 6.0, a comprehensive set of recommendations from industry experts. This report is a testament to the industry’s collective effort to harmonize best practices, ensuring that solar deployment continues to grow sustainably. The guidelines cover a wide range of topics, from O&M and recycling to waste management and utility-scale solar, reflecting the sector’s diverse and evolving needs.
The summit also shed light on the role of renewables in preventing CO2 emissions. Michael Schmela, Director of Market Intelligence at SolarPower Europe, emphasized that renewables, electrification, and flexibility are key to reducing carbon emissions. This message underscores the urgency of embracing a flexible electrification revolution, which is essential for achieving Europe’s climate goals.
Day two focused on the challenges and innovations in battery energy storage systems (BESS) and AI applications. Nicolas Depoorter, Country Managing Director for Spain & Portugal at Ngen, highlighted the regulatory hurdles in BESS deployment, noting the lack of harmonization between regulations and permits. This issue is a significant barrier to the widespread adoption of BESS, which is crucial for stabilizing the grid and maximizing the use of renewable energy.
The SUPERNOVA project, funded by Horizon Europe, aims to develop advanced AI tools to enhance the efficiency of solar PV plants. Miguel Herrero, Senior Market Advisor from PVcase, emphasized that AI is not just a tool for managing data but a driver of business growth and power demand. The project’s focus on leveraging AI for quality assurance and data sharing is a game-changer, as it promises to optimize the performance of solar PV systems and reduce operational costs.
The summit also addressed the critical issue of skills development in the solar PV sector. Initiatives like RESkill4NetZero and the Global Solar Council’s (GSC) Solar Training Standard Initiative aim to create a clearly defined skills strategy for in-demand jobs across the renewables sector. These initiatives are essential for ensuring a skilled workforce that can drive the solar revolution forward.
The European Technology & Innovation Platform for Photovoltaics’ (ETIP PV) Digitalisation Workstream organized a workshop on cyber resilience in solar PV systems. This workshop explored strategies for mitigating cyber threats and safeguarding solar PV infrastructure, highlighting the importance of cybersecurity in the digital age.
The summit’s key takeaway was clear: quality comes at a cost, but when done right, it drives returns, strengthens competitive advantage, and is key to driving the solar revolution. This message resonates throughout the industry, emphasizing the need for a collective commitment to quality assurance.
The insights from the Solar Quality Summit Europe 2025 are set to shape the future of the solar sector. By focusing on quality, innovation, and skills development, the industry can achieve its climate and energy goals while maintaining a competitive edge. The summit’s emphasis on quality assurance, AI applications, and regulatory harmonization will drive the sector forward, ensuring a sustainable and resilient energy future for Europe.
