Solar panels will be mandatory for all new buildings in the European Union under a new proposal aimed at ending dependence on Russian fossil fuels by 2027 and stepping up the transition to green energy.
The “Solar Roof Initiative” in the European Commission’s REPowerEU plan will introduce a phased legal obligation to install solar panels on new public and commercial buildings, as well as new residential buildings.
“We can also set an example,” said France Timmermans, who chairs the European Green Treaty commission, at a press conference announcing the plan on Wednesday. “Let’s show the committee how quickly we can put solar panels on our buildings.”
Frans Timmermans spoke at a news conference on Wednesday
(EPA)
The initiative is part of the Commission’s efforts to increase and accelerate renewable energy in electricity generation, industry, buildings and transport, to accelerate the EU’s independence from Russian imports, boost the green transition and reduce energy prices over time.
The detailed plan, released Wednesday, comes after the commission, the European Union’s executive branch, called for a swift cessation of Russian fossil fuels and the acceleration of the European Green Treaty in March in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
European leaders then agreed to completely end Europe’s dependence on Russian gas, oil and coal imports as soon as possible at the European Council later that month, and asked the Commission to draw up a plan by the end of May.
The REPowerEU plan, released on Wednesday, is the commission’s detailed proposal on how to do just that. The plan has three main pillars: energy saving, diversification of energy supplies and accelerated implementation of renewable energy.
The commission said the plan would require additional 210 billion euros (£ 178 billion) in investment between now and 2027 from private and public sectors across Europe, describing it as an “advance payment” for the bloc’s future independence and security. The proposal says reducing imports of Russian fossil fuels could save the EU almost 100 billion euros a year.
“It is clear that we need to end this dependence [on Russian fossil fuels] “as soon as possible and much faster than we had anticipated before this war,” Mr Timmermans said. “In March we showed that this can be done, the Versailles European Council decided that it should be done, today we are showing how it will be done.
Accelerate the introduction of renewable energy sources
The proposed mandatory commissioning of solar panels is part of the “renewable energy” ladder.
The Commission proposes to increase its current target of renewable energy production of 40% of energy in the EU by 2030 by increasing it to 45%.
To make this happen, the commission is proposing to double the pace of heat pump deployment, produce 10 million tonnes of domestic renewable hydrogen by 2030, and double wind and solar capacity.
By 2030, solar energy will also be the largest source of electricity in the EU, with more than half coming from rooftops, said Kadri Simson, the EU’s energy commissioner.
The Commission also calls on the Member States to create dedicated areas for renewable energy sources in areas with lower environmental risks, where it believes that licensing processes should be shortened and simplified.
It says it will sign contracts to support the upgrading of green hydrogen by industry and use emissions trading to help shift from dependence on Russian fossil fuels. It says it will also “step up” work on the supply of critical raw materials for the transition to renewables and will prepare a legislative proposal.
“There is a huge potential for solar energy on the roof … there is a huge potential for wind energy at sea and in the sea, there is a huge potential to increase biomethane production,” said Mr Timmermans. “If we do all these things, first of all we will reduce our imports of Russian gas by a third this year, and then, working by 2027, we will reduce our dependence to zero.
Energy saving
With regard to energy saving, the commission proposes to increase its current target of reducing energy consumption by 2030 through energy efficiency from 9 per cent to 13 per cent.
It also encourages Member States to pursue policies to increase energy savings, such as reduced VAT rates for energy-efficient heating systems, insulation of buildings and appliances and products, or by strengthening national energy requirements for new buildings.
In the short term, citizens and businesses can save energy by reducing heating temperatures and reducing the use of air conditioners, turning off lights, using more public transport and using household appliances more efficiently, the commission added.
“The cheapest energy is the energy you don’t use,” Mr Timmermans said.
Diversification of energy supplies
In the proposal, the committee says it is considering developing a “joint purchasing mechanism” that will negotiate and negotiate the purchase of gas on behalf of the participating Member States. This will also allow for the joint purchase of renewable hydrogen.
The commission will also consider legislative measures to push for diversification of gas supplies over time by member states, she added.
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