Several key energy files will be reopened during 2021 and Solar Heat Europe is ready to do its best to include solar thermal heating and cooling in the policy framework.

2021 is going to be a busy year for climate and energy policies in Europe. The European Commission has already announced and started working on the reopening of key directives: the recast of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) and the Energy Efficiency one (EED). The revision of these two directives will be key to push for higher and mandatory renewable heat targets and to implement key conditions to further deploy solar thermal in Europe. Solar Heat Europe has been actively involved in a set of workshops on both topics and is planning to follow up on this as one of the key priority issues for 2021.

However, next year will not be just about renewables and energy efficiency. Another key file in the energy and climate sector will be the revision of the EPBD – expected for the last quarter of 2021 – for which Solar Heat Europe will promote the ban of fossil fuels subsidies in new buildings.

During the second quarter of the year, the Commission is expected to publish legislative proposals on other relevant topics such as the Revision of the Energy Taxation Directive and the Emissions Trading System (ETS), even though is not clear if they will suggest to the extent the current ETS to transport and heating sectors. Finally, a non-legislative proposal should be published on the EU industrial strategy.

2021 is going to be a busy year, presenting our sector with both challenges and opportunities. With your support, we will be ready to face it and make the most out of these exciting times.