Brussels, 26 February 2025 – Affordable energy and industry’s competitiveness are at the center of the various communications released today within the first 100 days of the new European Commission. The Solar Heat sector is overall optimistic about these measures as it can, now, provide EU-made technologies towards these objectives. It nevertheless urges the co-legislators not to lose sight of support to European SMEs and to guarantee a level playing field among clean technologies whilst keeping the carbon neutrality objectives by 2050, giving a much higher focus on renewable heat sources.
Solar heat is a mature technology widely deployed in Europe already used on 11 million rooftops and hundreds of district heating networks and industries. It is produced by more than 250 European SMEs which stand ready to meet a growing demand. Guglielmo Cioni, Solar Heat Europe President said: “The Clean Industrial Deal must promote the growth of existing EU cleantech sectors including solar heat, to bolster manufacturing within Europe, enhance competitiveness, drive innovation, and create jobs. Our technology can help address the heat needs for both citizens AND industry. Solar heat must be part of these plans as it has a lot to offer!”
The competitiveness of industries and the affordability of energy – two priorities of the European Commission – depend largely on expensive imports. With solar thermal energy, the European Union tap into readily available, low-cost, homegrown renewable energy and provide reliable energy supplies independent of geopolitical issues, putting less pressure on the electricity-grid and enabling energy efficiency.
Solar Heat Europe first reactions on the Clean Industrial Deal (CID):
- The CID rightly identifies the access to affordability of energy as a cornerstone of competitiveness.
- We also support the call to promote and protect EU industry as well as the announcements for the upcoming Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act but also better energy taxation, faster permitting for renewables, support to skills and quality jobs.
- However, the decarbonisation energy sources identified under the CID should more explicitly consider ALL clean technologies and put them on an equal footing, especially when those are readily available, proven and produced by an EU-based sector – such as solar heat – which is able to meet 50% of the industrial heat needs in key sectors such as chemicals, food & beverage, pulp & paper, textile etc. Electrification is needed but cannot meet all energy needs alone as it will overload a grid which is not ready to cope with this demand. Synergies and efficiencies can be found and should be much more clearly encouraged.
- We strongly believe that the proposed renewable target for electricity capacity should also be accompanied by a target for renewable heating.
- Finally, it is key that the measures announced are workable for SMEs (eg Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act’s voluntary label of industrial products) and that adequate supporting measures facilitate the development of circular economy value chains, also taking into account SME’s needs.
Solar Heat Europe first reactions on the Affordable Energy Action Plan:
- The plan rightly identifies the need to accelerate investments in clean energy and infrastructures.
- Similarly, it recognizes the key role of energy efficiency and storage: on those, solar heat can provide the necessary flexibility and help avoid congestion, by multiplying the energy sources available, working off-grid, enabling easier access to energy during peak demand periods and helping reach the objective of zero-emission buildings.
- On local heat networks, the solar heat sector will continue to play its role decarbonizing those and bringing down the price of heat. Solar Heat technologies ALWAYS come with Thermal Energy Storage (TES). Over 200 GWh of combined thermal storage capacity is available in Europe. The cost of thermal energy storage is by far much more affordable now than power storage and should make it, therefore, a priority source of energy.
- However, we emphasize the need to prioritise the heat agenda and the renewable heat supplies. Heat represents half of our energy needs, 80% in buildings and 60% in industry, the plan should then promote clearly readily available renewable heat sources (such as solar heat, geothermal). Indeed, such renewable heat technologies can deliver now and are produced by companies based in Europe.
Valérie Séjourné, Managing Director of Solar Heat Europe highlighted: ”ALL relevant clean and renewable energy sources are needed for this transition. Europe’s heating needs are considerable, accounting for half of our energy needs. Solar Heat Europe acknowledges the Commission’s promise to launch a Heating and Cooling strategy but advocates for a fast delivery and a clearer political signal towards solar heat. We call for a global reflection on heating and cooling overall, involving all institutions to address these critical needs for industry’s competitiveness and for our citizens’ health. She concluded: “Several project developers are facing the challenges that gas prices continue to be too low, and this clearly prevents the uptake of renewable heat projects; adequate price mechanisms to reverse this trend and move away from fossil fuels must be part of the Plan to accelerate the clean heat transition so urgently needed”.
Solar Heat Europe first reactions on the Omnibus:
- Given the nature of its manufacturing sector comprising hundreds of SMES, the general spirit of the omnibus texts are welcomed by the members of Solar Heat Europe.
- It is key to maintaining the EU’s commitment to high sustainability and circular economy standards as well transparent and efficient reporting, but it is key that all sectors and in particular SMEs benefit from pragmatic and workable mechanisms to enable them to play their role in this journey.
- As a major player in the decarbonisation of industry, the solar thermal sector is calling for a continued commitment to the transition plans for climate change mitigation. These plans must give priority to Made in EU decarbonisation solutions, such as solar thermal.
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About Solar Heat Europe/ESTIF:
Solar Heat Europe aims to promote and facilitate the successful deployment of all solar thermal technologies as efficient, ready-to-deploy and reliable decarbonised energy sources for the provision of heating and cooling in many applications such as buildings, district heating networks and industry. Its network represents more than 250 companies covering different parts of the value chain and manufacturing in Europe. More info: Solar Heat Europe
Contact:
Valérie Séjourné
Managing Director
valerie.sejourne@solarheateurope.eu
Tel: +32 471 34 19 24
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