Residential Photovoltaic Electricity Generation in the European Union 2017-Opportunities and Challenges

Since 2000 grid-connected solar photovoltaic systems have increased their world-wide cumulative capacity about 250 times to exceed 300 GW at the end of 2016. More than another doubling is forecasted until 2020. Despite this positive development the photovoltaic market in the European Union has dramatically declined since 2012 and a major change is not in sight. The further development of the photovoltaic market in the EU is not only coupled to the question at what prices solar photovoltaic electricity can be provided and delivered to the customers, but even more to the regulations in place, which govern the installation of residential systems and the self consumption of PV electricity.