European Union Agrees For A Rooftop Solar Standard

EU Negotiates Directives To Achieve Rooftop Solar Target By 2026

Solar Power Europe, an industry association of solar companies, recently, released a statement by the European Union (EU) followed by a negation by them on the European performance of building directive. The EU now seems to have agreed for a rooftop solar standard. 

In this, they concluded by defining the directives for building energy efficiency targets, for decarbonizing the EU building stock and undertake key measures to use rooftop solar for covering the remaining electricity demand.

Jan Osenberg, a policy advisor at SolarPower Europe, said “EU negotiators reached a milestone to accelerate renewable deployment, yesterday, by inking a deal on the EU Solar Standard.” It elaborated that, all EU countries, it will require solar installations on all new public and commercial buildings by 2026, on all new residential buildings by 2029, on non-residential buildings that undergo a relevant renovation by 2027, and on all existing public buildings in a stepwise approach by 2030.

The Commission presented the measure as part of the EU Solar Rooftop Strategy to counter the energy crisis. It mentions that, on top of boosting solar deployment across all building segments, the measure will strengthen the efficient integration of PV installations into building construction processes. For example, roof constructions will soon always be combined with solar installations, reducing costs and allowing us to make use of the limited existing workforce as efficiently as possible. It claims to be a smart and a significant step into a future where having rooftop solar is as self-evident as having a washing machine.

It suggested that, the implementation of the directive must ensure the effective integration into construction practices and building requirements. It estimates that it could facilitate access to private financing solutions to support, in particular, innovative solutions like solar on the facades of the building. Ministries and stakeholders can leverage best practices from comparable measures that are already implemented in 9 EU countries.

In a statement, the European Commission said, “The Commission welcomes the provisional agreement reached today between the European Parliament and the Council to reduce the emissions and energy use of buildings across the EU. The strengthened Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) will support the EU’s efforts to decarbonise buildings across the whole Union.