Solar panels would be mandatory on all new buildings in the European Union, under a plan being explored to end Russia's reliance on fossil fuels by 2027 and boost the transition to green energy.
The strategy REPowerEU of the European Commission, called the “solar roofs initiative”, provides for a gradual legal obligation for new public and commercial structures, as well as for new residential buildings, to install solar panels.
You can read here the details of the plan presented on Wednesday.
“We can lead by example,” he says Frans Timmermans, Vice President of the Commission responsible for the European Green Deal, during the press conference to present the plan. “We demonstrate that we can quickly put solar panels on our structures.”
REPowerEU, the details
The global strategy released on Wednesday follows a call from the European Commission to swiftly end Russian fossil fuels and increase Europe's Green Deal in March, in reaction to the conflict in Ukraine. It aims to increase and accelerate the use of renewable energy in electricity production, industry, buildings and transport
The REPowerEU plan details how to achieve it, with three main pillars: energy saving, diversification of energy supply e accelerated introduction of renewable energies.
The additional investment necessary? Mammoth: over 210 billion euros within 5 years from the public and private sector, with an expected benefit of up to 90 billion euros saved each year.
Among the proposals put forward to achieve these objectives, the proposal for the mandatory installation of solar panels, the doubling of wind and solar capacity, the doubling of the use of heat pumps, the production of 10 million tonnes of domestic renewable hydrogen.
Europe 2030
By the end of the decade, says Kadri Simson, EU energy commissioner, solar energy will be the largest energy source in the EU. And more than half of this energy will come from the roofs of houses.
The intentions seem good: first of all that of reducing and simplifying the authorization processes. But in fact, what real economic aid can citizens expect? In the face of an obligation, support is also needed. And not just on solar panels.
We need to reduce VAT rates on high energy efficiency heating systems, building insulation and "virtuous" household appliances.
Otherwise there will be no obligation to hold. Or rather, it will be an obligation that has been absolutely disregarded. Let's see how REPowerEU will translate (it should be said) in a nutshell.
