List of Important News in the European Photovoltaic Market in January 2026

Release time:

Jan 20,2026

Date
Region
Key Entity
Event
Authoritative Source
Core Impact
Early January 2026
EU
European Commission
Proposed upgrade to the Cybersecurity Act, mandating the exclusion of "high-risk suppliers" from critical infrastructure, with Chinese PV modules and inverters (accounting for ~90% of EU market) being the primary targets
Financial Times (Jan 5, 2026)
European utilities (e.g., E.ON, Iberdrola) suspended projects; EU domestic capacity (10GW) is far from meeting annual demand (50GW), leading to potential 30%-50% cost increases and supply chain restructuring
Jan 4, 2026
Luxembourg
Luxembourg Ministry of Energy
Launched "prepayment" subsidy for residential PV: subsidies directly deduct installation costs (no upfront payment required). Max subsidy of €10,000 for 15kW PV systems and €2,250 for 9kWh energy storage; transition period ends on Mar 4
Luxembourg Ministry of Energy Announcement (Jan 4, 2026)
Lowers installation barriers for households, accelerates rooftop PV penetration, and serves as a model for heat pump/energy efficiency subsidy reforms
Jan 5, 2026
France
Certisolis (French Certification Body)
Revoked the 5.5% preferential VAT rate for four DMEGC PV module models due to traceability information errors. DMEGC withdrew unsold modules, compensated customers for VAT differences, and plans to reapply
pv magazine France (Jan 5, 2026)
Signals stricter EU scrutiny on PV product traceability and carbon footprint; pushes leading manufacturers to accelerate local production in Europe (e.g., Longi, Trina Solar’s French factories)
Jan 8, 2026
Romania
DTEK’s European Subsidiary (DRI)
Commissioned the 126MW Vacaresti Solar Power Plant, which has started electricity generation
ACTMedia (Jan 8, 2026)
Strengthens DRI’s presence in Romania’s renewable market; contributes to Southeast Europe’s 2030 renewable energy targets
Jan 12, 2026
Italy
Zelestra, BPER Banca
Zelestra secured €13 million in green senior debt financing from BPER for two solar projects: 6.5MWdc Ginosa (Puglia) and 9.5MWdc Bellomo (Sicily), with long-term PPAs signed with BKW
Renewable Energy Magazine (Jan 12, 2026)
Supports 10,000 Italian households with clean energy, reduces 8,500 tons of CO₂ annually; Zelestra aims to double its 1.4GW Italian project pipeline in 2026
Jan 13, 2026
Spain, Italy, Portugal
Aleasoft Energy Forecasting
Spain/Portugal recorded 39%/16% week-on-week solar output growth; Italy set a January record of 63GWh on Jan 11, while Germany/France saw 23%/26% declines
serbia-energy.eu (Jan 13, 2026)
Reflects divergent solar generation trends across Europe; highlights grid integration challenges in central European markets
Jan 14, 2026
Belgium
InterSolution Exhibition
Focused on PV-storage integration and grid-forming inverter technology; Huawei’s grid-forming solution gained significant attention
pv Europe (Jan 15, 2026)
EU grid connection standards shift from "installed capacity" to "system contribution"; non-grid-forming equipment faces phase-out risks
Jan 14, 2026
UK
UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
AR7 offshore wind auction secured 8.4GW capacity (8.2GW fixed, 192.5MW floating), with prices 10% higher than AR6 and delivery scheduled for 2028-2032
UK Parliament Press Release (Jan 14, 2026)
Offshore wind supply chain constraints (cables, piles) boost investment in standalone energy storage; UK/Germany’s 100MW+ storage projects see IRR of 10%-16%
Jan 15, 2026
EU
European Commission Directorate-General for Energy
Released report: EU PV capacity reached 406GW in 2025 (vs. 338GW in 2024), exceeding the 2022 Solar Strategy target of 380GW; solar accounted for 23.4% of EU renewable electricity in 2024
European Commission (Jan 15, 2026)
Confirms solar’s role as a core clean energy source; supports EU’s 2030 climate and energy independence goals
Jan 19, 2026
EU
pv magazine
China’s upcoming April 1 PV export tax hike drives 20%-30% module price increases in Europe; price-sensitive commercial/utility-scale projects face cost risks
WorldNews (Jan 19, 2026)
Adds pressure to EU PV project budgets; accelerates demand for local manufacturing and long-term supply contracts

NONE

U.S. Adds 11.7 GW of New Solar Capacity in Q3, Third Largest Quarter on Record

Date	Region	Key Entity	Event	Authoritative Source	Core Impact
Early January 2026	EU	European Commission	Proposed upgrade to the Cybersecurity Act, mandating the exclusion of "high-risk suppliers" from critical infrastructure, with Chinese PV modules and inverters (accounting for ~90% of EU market) being the primary targets	Financial Times (Jan 5, 2026)	European utilities (e.g., E.ON, Iberdrola) suspended projects; EU domestic capacity (10GW) is far from meeting annual demand (50GW), leading to potential 30%-50% cost increases and supply chain restructuring
Jan 4, 2026	Luxembourg	Luxembourg Ministry of Energy	Launched "prepayment" subsidy for residential PV: subsidies directly deduct installation costs (no upfront payment required). Max subsidy of €10,000 for 15kW PV systems and €2,250 for 9kWh energy storage; transition period ends on Mar 4	Luxembourg Ministry of Energy Announcement (Jan 4, 2026)	Lowers installation barriers for households, accelerates rooftop PV penetration, and serves as a model for heat pump/energy efficiency subsidy reforms
Jan 5, 2026	France	Certisolis (French Certification Body)	Revoked the 5.5% preferential VAT rate for four DMEGC PV module models due to traceability information errors. DMEGC withdrew unsold modules, compensated customers for VAT differences, and plans to reapply	pv magazine France (Jan 5, 2026)	Signals stricter EU scrutiny on PV product traceability and carbon footprint; pushes leading manufacturers to accelerate local production in Europe (e.g., Longi, Trina Solar’s French factories)
Jan 8, 2026	Romania	DTEK’s European Subsidiary (DRI)	Commissioned the 126MW Vacaresti Solar Power Plant, which has started electricity generation	ACTMedia (Jan 8, 2026)	Strengthens DRI’s presence in Romania’s renewable market; contributes to Southeast Europe’s 2030 renewable energy targets
Jan 12, 2026	Italy	Zelestra, BPER Banca	Zelestra secured €13 million in green senior debt financing from BPER for two solar projects: 6.5MWdc Ginosa (Puglia) and 9.5MWdc Bellomo (Sicily), with long-term PPAs signed with BKW	Renewable Energy Magazine (Jan 12, 2026)	Supports 10,000 Italian households with clean energy, reduces 8,500 tons of CO₂ annually; Zelestra aims to double its 1.4GW Italian project pipeline in 2026
Jan 13, 2026	Spain, Italy, Portugal	Aleasoft Energy Forecasting	Spain/Portugal recorded 39%/16% week-on-week solar output growth; Italy set a January record of 63GWh on Jan 11, while Germany/France saw 23%/26% declines	serbia-energy.eu (Jan 13, 2026)	Reflects divergent solar generation trends across Europe; highlights grid integration challenges in central European markets
Jan 14, 2026	Belgium	InterSolution Exhibition	Focused on PV-storage integration and grid-forming inverter technology; Huawei’s grid-forming solution gained significant attention	pv Europe (Jan 15, 2026)	EU grid connection standards shift from "installed capacity" to "system contribution"; non-grid-forming equipment faces phase-out risks
Jan 14, 2026	UK	UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero	AR7 offshore wind auction secured 8.4GW capacity (8.2GW fixed, 192.5MW floating), with prices 10% higher than AR6 and delivery scheduled for 2028-2032	UK Parliament Press Release (Jan 14, 2026)	Offshore wind supply chain constraints (cables, piles) boost investment in standalone energy storage; UK/Germany’s 100MW+ storage projects see IRR of 10%-16%
Jan 15, 2026	EU	European Commission Directorate-General for Energy	Released report: EU PV capacity reached 406GW in 2025 (vs. 338GW in 2024), exceeding the 2022 Solar Strategy target of 380GW; solar accounted for 23.4% of EU renewable electricity in 2024	European Commission (Jan 15, 2026)	Confirms solar’s role as a core clean energy source; supports EU’s 2030 climate and energy independence goals
Jan 19, 2026	EU	pv magazine	China’s upcoming April 1 PV export tax hike drives 20%-30% module price increases in Europe; price-sensitive commercial/utility-scale projects face cost risks	WorldNews (Jan 19, 2026)	Adds pressure to EU PV project budgets; accelerates demand for local manufacturing and long-term supply contracts

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List of Important News in the European Photovoltaic Market in January 2026