CEOs from major European solar and storage companies have called on European Union leaders to safeguard stability in energy and carbon markets, warning that new regulatory uncertainty could slow investment and weaken Europe’s progress on decarbonisation. Their joint statement followed a high-level meeting held in Brussels on 26 February 2026 with senior officials from the European Commission. Addressing President von der Leyen, President Costa and EU Heads of State, the industry leaders noted that the European Union is facing one of the most challenging periods in its history. They said global tensions, economic pressures and energy security risks require a new strategic approach and accelerated modernisation across European economies.
Energy, they stressed, remains at the centre of these challenges. Europe’s dependence on imported fossil fuels has been repeatedly exposed as a major vulnerability, while persistently high energy costs continue to affect industrial competitiveness and efforts to rebuild Europe’s manufacturing base. The CEOs argued that solar photovoltaic technology and battery storage can provide a fast and practical response to both concerns. They pointed to the 2022 energy crisis as evidence that rapid deployment of renewable energy and storage can shield households and businesses from extreme price volatility linked to fossil fuels. However, they cautioned that such progress depends on stable policy frameworks that create confidence for long-term investment.
In their statement, the executives urged EU leaders to preserve the essential design of the electricity market and the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). They noted that the electricity market design had recently undergone a full review and continues to deliver efficient investment signals and competitive pricing. The ETS, they added, remains one of the EU’s most effective tools for reducing emissions and supporting industrial transformation through reinvestment of revenues. They warned that reopening these frameworks now would risk undermining market stability, delay investment in solar, storage and other energy infrastructure, and ultimately weaken Europe’s ability to decarbonise at the speed required.
The CEOs also expressed concern about proposals that could introduce new administrative burdens or restrictive measures affecting the solar and storage sectors. While supporting the EU’s goal of strengthening European manufacturing and improving cybersecurity in the energy sector, they called for a balanced and proportionate approach. They cautioned that overly complex rules could delay projects, increase costs and push up energy prices at a time when Europe needs rapid progress. Instead, they recommended that policymakers focus on measures that can quickly deliver results.
These include completing the Single Market for electricity, ensuring consistent implementation of existing EU energy legislation, maintaining strong carbon-pricing structures under ETS1 and ETS2, and establishing a major investment programme for clean-energy and electrification infrastructure under the next EU budget cycle. The group highlighted that Europe must urgently expand grid capacity and storage infrastructure to integrate growing renewable demand, support new industrial activity and stabilise the electricity system. Without faster development of these networks, they said, Europe will face bottlenecks that threaten both energy security and economic competitiveness.
The CEOs concluded that Europe has the necessary tools to succeed, noting that solar and battery storage can reduce emissions, lower reliance on imported fuels and bring down wholesale electricity prices over time. They urged EU leaders to act decisively to secure the continent’s long-term energy and economic resilience. The statement was signed by senior executives representing leading companies in the renewable energy sector, including EDP Europe, Akuo, Engie, K2 Systems, Iberdrola Energía Internacional, Statkraft, BayWa r.e., IBC Solar, SMA, Abo Energy, Lightsource bp and Sonnedix.
Discover more from SolarQuarter
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
