An EU-solar standard for energy-positive, system-integrated and efficient buildings

Energy Cities teams up with dozen other EU organisations to urge EU leaders to accelerate solar energy deployment in buildings! Together with energy savings, such an ambition approach will be critical to support consumer energy security for the upcoming winters and increase the resilience of the European energy system while addressing the climate crisis.

Eevery additional solar kWh reduces European dependency on gas and other fossil fuels – solar heat and solar PV combined with electric heat pumps or vehicles offer a comprehensive fossil-free solution for heating and mobility. While gas price volatility threatens European citizen’s and businesses, the payback time of solar energy on buildings is steadily decreasing. Buildings offer immense solar deployment potential, allowing citizens to generate their own energy while reducing electricity energy bills and providing services to the grid thanks to their demand-side flexibility. 

According to the European Joint Research Centre, solar PV on buildings can deliver 25% of Europe’s annual electricity demand, equal to the electricity consumption of Germany and Poland combined.  At the same time, the European Commission estimates that solar thermal can triple its capacity by 2030, contributing to the decarbonisation of the heating and cooling sector, which represents the main use of Russian gas. 

An ambitious EU solar standard is necessary to accelerate the solar roll-out at a crucial time. Through a solar requirement, Europe can reduce citizen and societal costs by decreasing companies’ marketing expenditure, while promoting collective self-consumption energy models. The letter also points to the significant role of an ambitious solar standard in supporting the necessary deep renovation of Europe’s building stock (which accounts for 36% of EU CO2 emissions) and ensuring that buildings are well-integrated into an efficient and decarbonised energy system. 

The standard will send a critical signal to workers and companies to train for the huge numbers of jobs generated by the renewable transition and renovation wave. By 2030, solar thermal will generate 250,000 jobs, while under an EU 45% renewable target for Europe, solar PV will need 880,000 by the same year.  

Legislation to install obligatory solar on buildings is already occurring throughout Europe. Countries such as Belgium (Flanders), the Netherlands, and Switzerland have solar standards on existing buildings in place. In 7 EU countries, there is a solar standard on renovated buildings, and in 9 EU countries, there is a solar standard on new buildings. Now is the time to make it an EU norm.   

Read the letter and share the call!