- Job Title
- Managing Director International Affairs
- Company
- BSW - German Solar Association
- Country
- Germany
David Wedepohl first came into contact with the solar industry while working for a US consulting firm before joining the German Solar Industry Association as Head of Market and Communications and spokesperson for the association. Today, he is responsible for all of the association's international activities outside of the EU. This now includes projects and partnerships in and with Africa, Latin America, Asia and the USA. He is a broadcast journalist trained at the international broadcaster Deutsche Welle and has studied and worked on both sides of the Atlantic. He earned his US degree as a Fulbright Scholar. He gained professional experience as a press and public diplomacy officer at the German Embassy in Washington, DC, and in the communications department of DaimlerChrysler AG. Since 2023, he has also been Managing Director of the non-profit branch of the solar and storage sector, BSW-Solar gGmbh.
May 06, 2025Welcome & Introduction
11:30 am - 11:35 am
Solar's Role in Decarbonization Strategies Around the World
While many analysts still underestimate the growth potential of solar power, the most flexible power technology once again set a record-breaking installation milestone in 2024. But what does solar's success mean when political decarbonization commitments often lack strong government support, global fossil fuel demand continues to rise, and climate targets, including the 1.5°C Paris Agreement threshold—have already been exceeded?
This session will provide:
- Launch of five-year Global Market Outlook for Solar Power
- Insights into solar's role in decarbonization strategies across major global markets
- Leading solar associations' views on key opportunities and challenges in the world's largest solar markets
May 06, 2025European Solar Market Developments: What's Needed for Continuous & Notable Growth
02:30 pm - 04:00 pm
Major European Markets: What's Needed to Create the Next Solar Momentum in Europe
Across the EU, solar power surpassed coal in electricity generation for the first time last year. At the same time, however, solar growth has slowed significantly since the energy crisis, with five of the top ten markets installing less than the year before, and the overall expansion rate dropping to single digits. With increasing policy uncertainty in many countries, the success of solar in the EU depends on a strong vision of the new leadership in Brussels to create a stable, investment-friendly environment that ensures long-term momentum.
This session will provide:
- Market projections for EU solar growth and key trends
- Supply, demand and price analysis
- Insights from major national solar associations on market opportunities and barriers
- Discussion on how to reignite growth and meet EU targets