The European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference (EU PVSEC) 2025, held from September 22 to 26, underscored a pivotal shift in the solar energy sector’s focus from technological feasibility to commercial viability and market integration. Thomas Garabetian, Head of Research & Innovation at SolarPower Europe, highlighted this evolution during an interview with The Innovation Platform Editor, Maddie Hall.
A notable trend at this year’s conference was the research community’s pivot towards understanding how to commercialize new technologies and integrate them into various business models. “We have moved beyond simply determining whether this technology is feasible to actively working on how to develop commercial products that can reliably last and generate electricity when needed,” Garabetian noted. This shift is particularly evident in the case of perovskite solar cells, which require increased funding to facilitate mass production and broader market acceptance.
The conference also emphasized the importance of installation quality and reliability. As the market stabilizes following a boom in installations, there is a growing interest in ensuring the long-term performance of PV systems. Research is delving into specifics, such as the behavior of PV cells under prolonged UV exposure and the integration of PV systems with flexible resources like batteries. Garabetian stressed that innovation in these areas is crucial for maintaining profitability and ensuring the sector’s growth.
Circularity remained a key topic, with discussions focusing on sustainable manufacturing, end-of-life considerations, and material recovery. Garabetian pointed out that these aspects are transitioning from theoretical discussions to practical processes, with a focus on optimizing both commercial and technical aspects.
Looking ahead, SolarPower Europe is prioritizing grid integration and the deployment of flexible resources. Garabetian highlighted the need to increase battery capacity in Europe tenfold over the next few years, a core ask of the Battery Storage Europe Platform. The conference also saw the launch of a study, ‘Reshoring Solar Manufacturing to Europe,’ which models how solar systems supporting supply chain resilience can be competitive with imports from China. The study includes concrete recommendations for implementing the Net Zero Industry Act.
Collaboration is crucial for driving research innovation, with SolarPower Europe working extensively with the European Commission, PV industry, and research communities through the European Partnership for Innovation in Solar PV (EUPI-PV). During EU PVSEC, a workshop was organized to discuss funding schemes and enhance collaboration within EUPI-PV.
The conference also highlighted the significance of women in PV and the impact of inclusive leadership. SolarPower Europe CEO Walburga Hemetsberger received the 2025 Becquerel Prize for Outstanding Merits in Photovoltaics, recognizing her contributions to PV development and leadership in championing innovation and influencing policies. However, Garabetian noted that while the solar sector is ahead in diversity and inclusion, there is still work to be done to make it fully accessible and open to all.
The conference felt less international compared to previous years, reflecting global challenges faced by the industry. Garabetian emphasized the importance of maintaining international collaboration to facilitate global knowledge sharing and scientific exchange. Additionally, there is a crunch in research and innovation budgets globally, posing a challenge for the sector’s competitiveness.
Strategic priorities for 2026 and beyond include continuing to deploy PV systems at the current pace, expanding grid infrastructure, accelerating the permitting process, and implementing priorities set by the European Commission and SolarPower Europe regarding PV manufacturing within Europe. The European Union has set a goal of at least 30 GW of European solar manufacturing at each stage of the value chain by 2030. SolarPower Europe’s #MakeSolarEU campaign is pushing urgent calls to support these critical links in the solar-led energy transition.
The insights and takeaways from EU PVSEC 2025 highlight the solar sector’s evolving dynamics and the need for continued innovation, collaboration, and strategic prioritization to drive the energy transition forward.