Since the beginning of the development of the PV market, more than 945.4 GW of PV plants have been installed worldwide, of which approximately 70% have been installed in the last five years. Over the years, an increasing number of markets began to contribute to global PV installations, and the year 2021 closed with a record number of new countries installing significant amounts of PV. At the end of 2021, global installed solar capacity represented 945.4 GW of cumulative solar installations.

Evolution of cumulative PV installations

Evolution of annual PV installations

Global PV market in 2021

Solar energy in the European Union also performed exceptionally well in 2021 despite adverse market conditions on several fronts – from the ongoing negative impact of COVID-19 on our daily lives, to PV product supply shortages and subsequent price increases of solar units.

As predicted, demand for solar energy in the European Union has grown significantly in 2021. The 27 EU member states saw around 25.9 GW of new solar PV capacity connected to their grids in 2021, up 34% from 19.3 GW installed last year. This growth makes 2021 not only another record year for solar in the EU, but also the best year on record, coming exactly a decade after the previous record set at 21.4 GW in 2011.

Germany is again Europe's largest solar market in 2021 with 5.3 GW of new installed capacity, followed by Spain (3.8 GW), the Netherlands (3.3 GW), Poland (3.2 GW ) and France (2.5 GW).

In 2021, the top five markets in the European Union remained the same and among the top 10, there are only 2 new entrants from Northern Europe (Denmark and Sweden), replacing two established PV markets, one in central Europe (Belgium), one in the south ( Portugal). In 2021, 25 of the 27 EU member states deployed more solar energy than the previous year.

The EU's solar generation fleet grew by 19% to 164.9 GW, up from 139 GW in 2020, when growth was also in double digits, but at 16%.

The EU's solar power portfolio is still dominated by two countries – Germany (59.9 GW) and Italy (22 GW) currently operate around 50% of solar power generation resources – in 2020, their combined share was 55%.

As impressive as Germany's annual capacity and operating fleet of electricity at the end of 2021 may be, in terms of solar power per capita, the EU's most populous member state is no longer No. 1 – that honor now belongs to Netherlands.

Analysis of solar developments in EU Member States' National Solar Energy Climate Plans (NECPs) shows that two countries have already met their 2030 NECP targets in 2021, and more than half of EU Member States will their 2030 targets within the scope of this perspective period, to the end of 2025.

For most Member States, more energy additions are again expected in the 4-year installation forecasts than in last year's outlook. Backed by Germany's new government's ambitious announcement to double its 2030 solar power target to 200 GW, Europe's top market will become even more central to the continent's solar sector. Germany is expected to install 47.7 GW by 2025, almost as much as we estimate for the next three solar markets combined – Spain, the Netherlands and France.

This year's EU Market Outlook PV market scenarios for 2022 to 2025 show continued, double-digit annual growth rates that are all slightly higher than in our previous edition. The Medium Scenario now projects growth rates of 18-20% compared to levels of 16-17% last year, adding about 162.7 GW and reaching 327.6 GW by the end of 2025. The Medium Scenario models up to 2030, the total solar fleet in the EU will continue its strong growth to 672 GW that year, with the annual installation rate exceeding 85 GW.

There are two (2) PV parks, the "Epiros 1" park and the "Epiros 2" park. 1 started its operation in April 2016. Therefore, until that time, only park 2 is operating in Epirus.

The energy production in April 2016, December 2016 and November 2017 in the Epirus 2 park is about 1.5 times greater than the production in the Epirus 1 park.

Regarding the production of electricity on an annual basis, it is observed that in 2015 the production increases, while in 2016 and 2017 there is a gradual decrease in the production of electrical power.

Average Monthly Energy Production per Park

In the summer months the average energy production is about 1.5 times higher than in the winter months.

Below is a high production curve in June, July, August, which in the period until the winter months (in some cases) gradually decreases and reaches about 2/3 of its production.

According to an IRENA study on the potential of renewable energy sources in Southeast Europe, Albania's technical potential for photovoltaic development is estimated at 2,378 MW, with a production of 3,706 GWh per year. IRENA's CESEC study proposes in the REmap scenario a photovoltaic installed capacity of 1,074 MW by 2030, with an annual production potential of 1,697 GWh. The Figure below shows the suitable areas for PV development and highlights the zones with the highest development potential in Albania. These zones are assessed by combining resource potential with protected areas, land uses, topography, population growth and proximity to transport and are ranked with scores between 0% and 100%, determining the degree of feasibility of an area for PV development public utility project.

Suitable Areas for the Development of Photovoltaic Systems and Zones with the Highest Potential

In the last 3-4 years there has been progress towards the diversification of electricity production in Albania, both in terms of legal/institutional mechanisms and on-site investments.

Estimated solar thermal installations in Albania amounted to 176,000 m2 of solar water heating capacity, equivalent to 123 MW of nominal thermal power, by the end of 2015. Of this installed capacity, 90% are flat-plate collector systems, while 10% are collectors with vacuum tubes.

Albania has excellent levels of solar radiation over most of its territory at a rate of more than 1,500 kWh/m2 per year, with maximum values ​​of 1,753 kWh/m2 per year, especially in the western part of the country. The country has one of the most hours of sunshine per year in Europe, presenting significant potential for the development of photovoltaics for electricity production and solar thermal for heating. On average, the country enjoys 220 days of sunshine or 2,700 hours of sunshine per year.

Average Annual Global Horizontal Radiation of Albania

Source: Global Solar Atlas (ESMAP, 2017)