The new focus on renewable heat in the new Renewable Energy Directive is welcomed by The European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF).

However, they regret several incoherences in the Winter Package, and a general low level of ambition for the renewable energy sector.

The European Commission released today a set of legislative measures related to the energy sector, referred to as the Winter Package. Most notably, it contains the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED), the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Together, they constitute the legislative pillars underpinning the EU renewable energy sector.

ESTIF welcomes the unprecedented focus on renewable heating in the RED, through the introduction of a new dedicated tool to boost deployment of renewable heating technologies such as solar thermal. To be effective enough, this measure must be now upgraded to a mandatory obligation scheme on heat suppliers, which must be carefully implemented by Member States, so that it really promotes renewable heating technologies such as solar thermal.