Europe targets 88.2 GW solar manufacturing capacity to reduce reliance on imports

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Europe is planning a major expansion of domestic solar manufacturing as it seeks to reduce dependence on imported components and build a more integrated regional supply chain.

Europe's solar industry is entering a new phase of expansion, with manufacturers and investors planning to increase domestic production capacity across the solar value chain.

According to the latest Europe Solar Supply Chain Map, Edition 1, 2026, released by Sinovoltaics, Europe's current solar module manufacturing capacity stands at 24.2 GW. Announced expansion plans could increase this to 88.2 GW between 2027 and 2030, reflecting the region's growing focus on strengthening its own clean-energy manufacturing base.

The push comes as Europe looks beyond final module assembly and seeks greater control over the components and materials needed to produce solar equipment.

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Europe looks to build a more independent solar supply chain

A key part of the expansion is the development of upstream solar manufacturing, including solar cells, silicon wafers, ingots and polysilicon.

These materials and components are produced earlier in the solar manufacturing process, before finished modules are assembled. Increasing their production within Europe could help create a more integrated domestic supply chain and reduce the region's reliance on imported components.

The latest Sinovoltaics map reflects this broader shift, with five major projects and new manufacturers added to the European supply chain landscape. They include Solar Organic Centro España, Solar Fabrik GmbH, RESILICON, Astronergy, and a joint initiative between JTPV and Schmid-Pekintaş.

Their addition highlights continued investment across different stages of solar manufacturing as Europe seeks to strengthen its position in the clean-energy sector.

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88.2 GW ambition comes with challenges

While the potential increase from 24.2 GW to 88.2 GW represents a substantial expansion, not all of the announced capacity is operational.

Several proposed upstream facilities and large-scale manufacturing projects remain in the planning or construction stages. Turning those plans into commercial production will depend on continued government support, access to long-term financing and sufficient demand for European-made solar products.

Sinovoltaics said favourable policy and market conditions will be important for manufacturers to complete their investments and operate competitively.

Without sustained financial and regulatory support, some projects could face delays or difficulties reaching their planned production levels.

From modules to the wider solar value chain

The planned expansion therefore represents more than an increase in Europe's module-making capacity. It points towards an effort to establish a broader domestic solar manufacturing ecosystem, covering more stages from raw materials and upstream components through to finished modules.

Sinovoltaics regularly updates its global solar supply chain maps every four months, tracking manufacturing projects, production capacity and industry developments across major solar markets including Europe, North America, Southeast Asia and India.

For Europe, the latest figures underline the scale of its ambition: build more of the solar technology it needs at home, strengthen supply-chain resilience and reduce exposure to imported components as the region expands its renewable energy manufacturing base.

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