Bob Burton: Coalwire

The latest government data shows Chinese manufacturers have produced 550 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity in the year to date, with August production up by almost a fifth on a year ago. China’s prodigious solar production capacity is not only reshaping the domestic power sector but is also underpinning rapid shifts in the renewable capacity of many countries. A new report by the climate think tank Ember highlights the dramatic increase in solar capacity in Hungary and Poland and the corresponding decline in coal generation. Another report outlines the extensive overseas investments of Chinese companies in new energy technologies and materials.

Chinese government officials have spoken of the need to curtail overproduction and price wars in key economic sectors, including coal mining. Major coal producers, including China Coal Energy and Shenhua, recently said that the growth of coal production will slow in the remainder of the year and imports will decline. Reuters reports that an Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Energy Bureau internal document said they suspended production at 15 mines that exceeded their approved capacity by more than 10 per cent in the first half of the year. The latest data indicates that the production of solar cells increased in August by 17 per cent year-on-year to 70 GW. Solar panel production over the January to August period reached 550 GW. (Reuters, National Bureau of Statistics of China [Chinese], Reuters)

Turning to the sun: Solar rise in Central Europe

Solar power in Central Europe has grown at twice the EU average since 2019. Once associated with coal, the region is already Europe’s solar powerhouse and is quickly becoming the continent’s battery hub. 

10 Sep 2025

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This report examines electricity generation trends in Central European countries (Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) from 2019 to 2024, with insights from 2025. The first section shows that solar generation in the region grew faster than the EU average, while coal power declined, though progress varied between countries. The second section analyses the uptake of battery storage and other flexibility technologies until today, presenting successful examples from the region.

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Smart policies turn coal laggards into solar leaders

Central Europe’s (CE) solar power generation has more than doubled the EU average growth rate over the past five years, despite the region’s modest solar potential, below average GDP and political hurdles.

Record-breaking summer months in 2025 saw solar supply over 40% of Hungary’s electricity and over one-fifth in Poland. Yet national plans for 2030 still set renewable targets well below the EU average, risking a slowdown in progress. To maintain momentum, CE countries need to match solar growth with grid flexibility and storage, building on their leading role in battery manufacturing.

• Central Europe’s solar generation grew at twice the EU average rate since 2019. From 2019 to 2024, Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia increased cumulative solar output nearly sixfold — from 5 TWh to 29 TWh, compared to the EU’s 2.5-fold increase (125 to 308 TWh).
• Hungary became a global leader in 2024, with solar energy contributing nearly 25% to its electricity generation. Czechia almost doubled its solar output since 2019 and became the first in the region to legalise agri-PV.
• The region is a battery manufacturing hub. Hungary and Poland consistently rank among the top battery exporters in the world. With one of the largest grid-scale battery project pipelines in the EU, Poland is turning into a leading market, while battery deployment lags behind in Hungary.

Central Europe has defied expectations: despite an unfavourable policy setting, it has become one of Europe’s solar success stories. Building on its emerging strength as a battery hub, the region is set to lead the next phase of the clean energy transition, provided the right policies are in place to ensure lasting leadership.

Tatiana Mindeková
‍Policy Advisor, Ember

14 Minutes Read

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Tatiana Mindekova
Policy Advisor – European Energy
Ember Beatrice Petrovich
Senior Energy and Climate Analyst
Ember

Smart policies turn coal laggards into solar leaders

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Solar growth in Central Europe exceeds all expectations

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The key to ongoing solar success in Central Europe: flexible grids and storage 

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Supporting information

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