Photovoltaic Market 2026: Slow Start but Strong Structural Drivers

The photovoltaic market entered 2026 with lower installation volumes compared to the previous month. Approximately 1,012 MW of new PV capacity were connected to the grid in January, marking the weakest start to a year in four years.

Nearly all segments recorded declines, except the small commercial category, which showed marginal growth.

Seasonal installation challenges, including winter weather conditions, likely contributed to the reduced output.

Electrification Drives Long-Term Solar Demand

Despite the slow start, structural growth drivers remain intact.

The increasing electrification of:

• Transport (electric vehicles),
• Heating (heat pumps), and
• Residential energy systems

is strengthening the business case for self-consumption-based solar systems.

As feed-in tariffs gradually decline, optimizing on-site electricity use through battery storage and smart energy management systems becomes increasingly important.

Battery Storage Market Mirrors PV Trends

The residential battery storage market experienced a temporary slowdown in line with reduced rooftop PV installations. However, a qualitative shift toward integrated PV-storage-energy management solutions is evident.

In contrast, the commercial storage segment demonstrated strong year-on-year growth:

• 30–100 kWh systems: +28%
• 100–1,000 kWh systems: +64%

Commercial battery storage benefits from dynamic tariffs, peak shaving, and operational load management strategies.