The European Commission has launched four public consultations on the review of energy labelling and ecodesign requirements for heating products. These consultations are highly relevant for the solar thermal sector, as they will shape the future framework for product obligations (including the new packages) and potentially for a solar thermal label.
The consultations cover legal documents on Energy Labelling and on Ecodesign, both for “space and combination heaters” and “water heaters and storage tanks” (hence four documents, resulting in four parallel consultations.
You can access the consultations here:
| Energy Labelling – space and combination heaters |
| Ecodesign – space and combination heaters |
| Energy labelling – water heaters and tanks |
| Ecodesign requirements for water heaters and tanks |
Main Issues for Solar Thermal
As previously addressed in the workshop “Solar thermal within the scope of Energy Labelling” held on 14th October, the main challenges for solar thermal are the changes to the package Label, i.e., the installer package label will be discontinued; only the manufacturer package label will remain, considered as a product, with manufacturers responsible for placing the full combination in the market and also for the EPREL registration.
This solution will serve well for the thermosiphons with electric element, but it will constitute a problem for other solar thermal combinations/hybrids.
One aspect that is positive for solar thermal is that the proposed approach aligns with the simplified TSM method (the new calculation method and approach proposed by SHE), though minor corrections are needed.
Another aspect to be further discussed is the new label templates: the new templates include a package/hybrid labels including solar thermal. However, labels are based on an average climate, removing the previous option for thermosiphons to display performance for warmer zones – a setback for southern markets that needs to be addressed with the European Commission and in the context of the current consultations.
Next Steps
Solar Heat Europe will prepare a consolidated response to these consultations. The SHE Expert Group will finalise the work on developing a Solar Thermal Label Proposal. This will be built on previous work, adapted to the new framework and templates. The Expert Group will also be working on asking for corrections to the current proposed legal text, addressing technical details and ensuring fair representation of solar thermal and its performance.
Two consultation workshops are foreseen; to gather input from members and experts and finalize SHE’s contribution to this consultation.
The first one will be dedicated to a discussion on the proposal for the creation of a solar thermal label, in the context of the ongoing review of the Energy Labelling and Ecodesign regulations for Space and Water Heaters.
SHE Workshop on Energy Labelling (16 December 2025): a Solar Thermal Label?
📅 Date: 16 December 2025
🕑 Time: 14:30 – 16:00 CET
📍 Online (link will be shared with registered participants)
📝Register here
The second workshop will focus on reviewing the overall contribution from Solar Heat Europe to the EC consultation on the review of the Energy Labelling and Ecodesign regulations for Space and Water Heaters.
SHE Workshop on Energy Labelling (15 January 2026): reviewing SHE’s contribution to the EC consultation
📅 Date: 15 January 2026
🕑 Time: 10:00 – 12:00 CET
📍 Online (link will be shared with registered participants)
📝Register here
In the meantime, we invite those experts interested in contributing to this work and join the Energy Labelling and Ecodesign Expert Group of SHE to get in contact with our Secretariat: pedro.dias@solarheateurope.eu