This article analyses the energy statistics of 15 European Union countries (EU-15), giving special emphasis to the installed solar photovoltaic and thermal collector capacity. The installed capacities per capita are analysed in relation to the solar radiation income of respective countries with the view to explore the relationship between the solar income and its utilisation as of the year 2006. In terms of the installed solar thermal collector capacity, Austria leads the statistics amongst the countries studied with 223W(th) collector capacity per capita, followed by Greece with 207W(th). Except for Greece, it is observed that the countries with high solar radiation income are lacking to realise their solar potential. Regarding the installed photovoltaic power per capita, Luxembourg leads the pack by a wide margin with 47W(p) capacity, followed by Germany with 30W(p). Fiscal instruments to invigorate the deployment of solar energy have also been identified in this work. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.