Summary: A coalition of 18 organisations has urged EU member states to require solar be installed on all new and renovated buildings and existing non-residential buildings.
FREMONT, CA: A group of 18 organisations has pushed EU member states to mandate solar installation on all newly constructed and refurbished structures as well as on all currently standing non-residential structures.
Accelerating the installation of solar panels on buildings is essential to ensuring energy security for the coming winters and boosting the resilience of Europe's energy system, according to signatories to the letter issued today to EU energy ministers and the European Parliament.
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As part of its REPower EU aims to lessen the reliance on fossil fuels on the continent, the European Commission earlier this year put out the idea of an EU Solar Rooftop Initiative.
The letter calls for the inclusion of a need to install solar on all new buildings in addition to those being renovated in order to maximise the potential of the programme within the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
The letter, which was signed by industry group SolarPower Europe and is available for reading here, stated that it was a simple, regret-free option that a number of member states had already adopted. According to the letter, citing data from the European Joint Research Centre, solar PV on buildings can supply 25 per cent of Europe's yearly electricity needs, comparable to Germany's and Poland's combined electricity usage. Rooftop solar is the answer to reducing energy costs, maintaining energy security, and achieving our environmental goals.
An ambitious solar mandate on all buildings will enable the quick adoption of effective, carbon-free solar buildings while promoting the growth of the essential green workforce.
According to the organisations, regulatory frameworks must take into account the value of solar energy in comparison to total costs from retail electricity or gas in order to foster the establishment of an on-site solar mandate. In order to lower the capital expenditure for a solar system, financing programmes should be made available to small and medium-sized businesses, low-income households, and rooftop PV installers.