Brussels, 8 December 2023 – Following successful Trilogue negotiations for the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) held yesterday, Solar Heat Europe welcomes the progress made in achieving consensus on this pivotal file of the Fit for 55 Package between the Council and the European Parliament. This milestone, complemented by the adoption of the Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive, strengthens mechanisms for decarbonising buildings, aligning with Europe’s energy and climate goals as outlined in the EU Green Deal.
Representing the European solar thermal sector, Solar Heat Europe welcomes the EPBD revision, particularly Article 9a, calling for a European solar rooftop mandate. This provision stands to unlock the potential of a largely untapped resource—energy generated using European rooftops. When adequately transposed and supported at national level, this provision can deliver affordable and renewable heat and power to European consumers, boosting the capacity of buildings to become energy-producing units.
“With more than 10 million solar thermal installations already operational in Europe, solar thermal is a mature and ready-to-deploy technology for buildings. It has the capacity to reach many more rooftops and households, providing hot water and heat directly from the sun’s energy, sharing rooftop space with other technologies. Moreover, solar thermal systems integrate thermal storage, allowing buildings to store thermal energy and alleviate pressure on the power grid.” states Valérie Séjourné, Managing Director of Solar Heat Europe.
Guglielmo Cioni, President of Solar Heat Europe, complements: “Solar thermal can ensure a faster heat decarbonisation in European buildings and can easily be integrated with existing and new heating systems. The new EPBD creates conditions to triple solar heat capacity by 2030, as outlined in the EU Solar Energy Strategy, and the solar thermal sector, backed by a robust EU manufacturing base, is ready to deliver on these objectives.”
Key to success is the national transposition of the EPBD, ensuring a level playing field for all solar technologies, including solar thermal, solar PV, and solar hybrid – PVT (Photovoltaic-Thermal). The EU directive explicitly requires that the mandate should apply to all solar technologies, in line with the principle of fair competition which is at the core of the European project and EU laws. Fair competition benefits consumers, allowing them to choose the solution that best fits their needs and preferences. Member States must ensure the implementation at national level includes all solar technologies where applicable, especially considering the high energy consumption of hot water and heating in buildings, which represents 80% of their total energy demand. In situations with limited rooftop area available, solar thermal and solar hybrid – PVT could be the optimal choices, providing the best energy density.
Solar Heat Europe also welcomes the gradual phase-out of fossil fuel boilers for heating and cooling by 2040, particularly the end of subsidies for the installation of stand-alone fossil fuel boilers from the beginning of 2025. The phase-out of fossil-fuel only systems is an important signal, paving the way for a faster deployment of solar thermal and solar hybrids. In this regard, an essential step will be the conclusion of the review of the Energy Labelling and Ecodesign regulations on space and water heaters. In particular, the confirmation of the inclusion of solar hybrids and the update of the requirements for solar thermal in the packages of space and water heaters will be essential in the gradual phase-out of the use of fossil fuels in buildings by 2040.
About Solar Thermal on European Rooftops:
Solar thermal has the highest energy density among all solar technologies, making optimal use of the rooftop area available on our buildings. In addition, it provides energy at competitive costs (LCoE) compared to all other renewable and non-renewable solutions. It is also flexible and can be used in combination with other heating and cooling technologies, such as biomass, heat pumps, or district heating, to achieve higher levels of decarbonisation and optimal energy efficiencies.
The European solar thermal industry includes many SMEs all over Europe and supplies over 90% of the EU domestic demand, contributing to Europe’s industrial competitiveness, creating local jobs, and strategic autonomy. Furthermore, the production capacity can be quickly ramped up to meet higher demand in the short and medium term, avoiding long waiting times and peaks in costs for consumers.
Solar thermal is a fully renewable and decentralised energy solution, which integrates thermal energy storage by default. As the electrification of end uses progresses, these characteristics will become crucial to reduce the burden on the grid, offer flexibility services, and prioritise the use of renewable electricity for end-uses with limited or no alternatives, such as mobility or cooking. |
For more details on market data related to solar thermal in buildings, explore Solar Heat Europe’s latest Market Outlook.
About Solar Heat Europe/ESTIF
Solar Heat Europe/ESTIF’s mission is to promote solar heat as a key technology for the decarbonisation of heating and cooling in Europe and to realise the high potential of solar heat in the energy transition. With members in more than 15 European countries, Solar Heat Europe members cover different parts of the value chain, being based in countries as diverse as Finland or Cyprus. Last year, Solar Heat Europe published Energising Europe with Solar Heat – A Solar Thermal Roadmap for Europe, comprising key information and data about the potential of the technology to accelerate the energy transition and boost the European economy.
Contact:
| Valérie Séjourné
Managing Director valerie.sejourne@solarheateurope.eu Tel: +32 471 34 19 24 |
Alexandra Șuțu
Communications and Events Manager alexandra.sutu@solarheateurope.eu Tel: +32 474 94 09 81 |
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