Interview

OSDA Solar on European Market Maturity and Potential EU Manufacturing Initiatives

Julia Z. Pohl, Director Research Operations at EUPD Group, speaks with Lisa Hirvonen, Business Development Director at OSDA Solar, during The smarter E Europe 2026. Their discussion focuses on the European solar market's evolution into a mature phase and OSDA Solar's strategy for vertical and horizontal integration. Hirvonen also touches upon the company's future plans,…

Interviewer · EUPD Group
Julia Z. Pohl
Director Research Operations · EUPD Group
Guest · OSDA Solar
Lisa Hirvonen
Business Development · OSDA Solar
Filmed ·Runtime 04:28Interview ·
Interview
The smarter E Europe 2026 · Munich
04:28
Filmed on site · No editorial direction beyond question set · Captions auto-generated, reviewed by EUPD Group

Key takeaways

4 points · 04:28 video
  1. European Solar Market Maturity
    Lisa Hirvonen, Business Development Director at OSDA Solar, identifies the European solar market as mature, shifting from an "exceptional boom" to a more normalized growth curve. This indicates a period of continued strong deployment but with reduced growth compared to prior years.
  2. Key Drivers for Sustained Growth
    Sustaining Europe's solar expansion requires key infrastructure and policy changes, according to Hirvonen. These include significant grid expansion, faster permitting processes, and increased deployment of energy storage systems.
  3. One-Stop Solution Provider
    OSDA Solar positions itself as a "one-stop solution provider" for the European market through vertical and horizontal integration. The company offers a comprehensive range of high-efficiency modules, hybrid inverters, and energy storage solutions.
  4. Exploring EU Manufacturing
    OSDA Solar is exploring a new strategic phase, including ongoing feasibility studies for potential manufacturing or assembly of inverters and ESS in Europe. This initiative aims for deeper European integration and local production capabilities.

European Solar Market Enters Mature Phase

Lisa Hirvonen, Business Development Director at OSDA Solar, describes the European renewable energy market as globally significant but transitioning into a more mature phase. This shift implies a reduced growth curve compared to previous "exceptional boom" years, moving towards a normalized expansion. According to Hirvonen, sustaining the industry's growth necessitates addressing several factors. These include substantial grid expansion, streamlining bureaucratic processes like permitting, and increasing the deployment of energy storage systems.

"So now, we are shifting from this exceptional boom phase to a more normalized growth curve." Hirvonen · 01:00

OSDA Solar's Integrated Value Proposition

Hirvonen explains OSDA Solar's strategy to reinforce its market position amidst this maturation by integrating vertically and horizontally across the value chain. This includes manufacturing high-efficiency cells and modules, alongside hybrid inverters and energy storage solutions. OSDA Solar aims to be a "one-stop solution provider" for its European customers, offering modules, inverters, and ESS from a single service partner. This approach emphasizes accessibility, trust, and a unified contact point, according to Hirvonen.

"So from European level, we would like to position ourself like a one-stop solution provider for our customers." Hirvonen · 02:23

Future Initiatives and European Manufacturing Exploration

Looking ahead, OSDA Solar plans to further support Europe's energy transition through continued innovation and shared value creation. A significant consideration for the next phase involves exploring greater European integration for the company. Hirvonen reveals that OSDA Solar is conducting feasibility studies regarding potential future manufacturing assembly of inverters and energy storage systems within Europe. While not yet confirmed, this initiative signals a strategic move towards local production.

"Involving OSDA a little bit more on European level with possible future manufacturing assembly of inverters and ESS also in Europe." Hirvonen · 03:34

Chapters

Chapters · click to jump
00:09
Introduction to EUPD and OSDA Solar
Julia Z. Pohl introduces the interview with Lisa Hirvonen of OSDA Solar, setting the stage at The smarter E Europe 2026.
00:30
European Solar Market Trends
Hirvonen describes the European solar market's shift from an exceptional boom to a mature, normalized growth phase, emphasizing the need for grid expansion and energy storage.
01:28
OSDA Solar's Value Proposition
Hirvonen details OSDA Solar's strategy to become a one-stop solution provider by integrating vertically and horizontally across the value chain, offering modules, inverters, and ESS.
03:04
Future Strategic Directions
OSDA Solar discusses its commitment to innovation in Europe and reveals ongoing feasibility studies for potential European manufacturing or assembly of inverters and ESS.
04:03
Closing Remarks
Julia Z. Pohl thanks Lisa Hirvonen, concluding the interview and The smarter E Europe 2026.

Interview transcript

Auto-generated · reviewed · ~3 min read
Hi, everyone. My name is Julia Pohl, and I'm the Director of Research Operations at the EUPD group. We're here on the third and last day of the smarter E Europe 2026, but it is not over quite yet. I'm joined here by Lisa Hirvonen, the Business Development Director of OSDA, and we'll be talking a little bit about the market developments in the solar industry in Europe. Hi, Lisa. Hi. Thank you for the invitation. Good to have you. Thank you. So starting off, what would you say from you and others' perspective are the current key developments in the European market that you can observe? Well, regarding the European market, I would say, it will remain one of the largest renewable energy markets globally. But, from market perspective, I can say that we believe that the market has now entered a little bit more of a mature phase. Mm. Still with a strong deployment of solar, but with a little bit reduced growth curve compared to previous years. So now, we are shifting from this exceptional boom phase to a more normalized growth curve. Mm-hmm. So I think now for the continued expansion of the European level, of the European solar industry, we need to find the way to deploy larger volumes of panels and solar, including grid expansion, bureaucratical things like faster permitting- Mm ... and also deployment of energy storage systems. So I think that is also key for the continued growth of the European solar industry. Interesting. I think I can definitely agree with most of the developments you mentioned. We see this in our data as well. But, what I'd be interested to know is, given that it's a more mature phase now- Yeah ... that growth has sort of flattened a little bit. I can imagine that it's also becoming more challenging to- It is ... reinforce and maintain your position in the market. Yeah. It is. So what would you say is OSDA doing to reinforce their strategic value in the market and- Sure ... add an actual use case and business case to- Sure ... their customers? So I would say, OSDA, since they really first started in 2009, the company has seen a really rapid growth, also on international level and including European level. So at OSDA, we move both vertically and horizontally on the value chain. So vertically, including manufacturing of high-efficiency cells and modules. Horizontally, with the hybrid inverters and energy storage solutions. So from European level, we would like to position ourself like a one-stop solution provider for our customers. So supplying components tailored for the evolving needs of the European market. So becoming a one-stop supplier for modules, inverters, and ESS, all supplied by OSDA as a one service partner. That's interesting because definitely accessibility, but also trust and sort of one key access point and contact person is very central. It is. Exactly. And so it- To give added value. Yeah. Absolutely. And I think that's exactly the right way to reinforce and maintain your positioning. Right. So that being said, it sounds like you already have implemented a lot of strategic actions in the last years. What's next? What's the next big thing you guys are working on? Okay. So of course- The things that you may share. Of course, some might be a secret. No. What I can share, of course, it's continuing with supporting Europe with innovation, energy transition, shared value creation. But also now we are thinking to move into the next phase. Involving OSDA a little bit more on European level- Right ... with possible future manufacturing assembly of inverters and ESS also in Europe. So that is a little bit the next phase, but it's not something that is confirmed. But we have ongoing feasibility studies regarding it. So to see also OSDA maybe manufactured in Europe. But as I said, it's feasibility study- ... not confirmed, but we are working in that direction. Well, hopefully I get to meet you again here next year and ask you about where we stand regarding those plans. Yeah. I hope so. I hope we will be one step further on. Great, Lisa. Okay. Thank you so much for taking the time. Thank you. Enjoy the rest of the day. Enjoy the remaining couple of hours of this- Thank you very much ... one of a kind event, and see you soon. Okay. The same to you. Thank you very much. Okay.
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Frequently asked questions

According to Lisa Hirvonen of OSDA Solar, the European solar market is now in a more mature phase, transitioning from an exceptional boom to a normalized growth curve. While still one of the largest global renewable energy markets, its growth rate has slightly reduced.

Hirvonen states that continued expansion of the European solar industry requires overcoming several challenges. These include the need for significant grid expansion, faster permitting processes, and increased deployment of energy storage systems to support larger volumes of solar.

OSDA Solar reinforces its strategic value by acting as a one-stop solution provider for its European customers. Lisa Hirvonen explains that the company integrates vertically with module manufacturing and horizontally with inverters and energy storage solutions.

As a one-stop supplier, OSDA Solar provides high-efficiency solar modules, hybrid inverters, and energy storage systems (ESS). Lisa Hirvonen notes that these components are tailored for the evolving needs of the European market, all supplied from a single service partner.

OSDA Solar is currently conducting feasibility studies for potential future manufacturing and assembly of inverters and energy storage systems within Europe. While not confirmed, this initiative reflects the company’s interest in deeper European integration and local production.