Yesterday, the European Commission presented the Clean Energy Investment Strategy and the Citizens Energy Package. These two texts are intended to tackle both ends of the value chain: on the one hand, the manufacture of clean technologies, and on the other, their adoption by consumers.
This starting point is in line with Solar Heat Europe’s position: we must decarbonise citizens’ energy use with technologies manufactured in Europe. During the debate in the European Parliament, Commissioner Dan Jorgensen emphasised that ‘we must mobilise all the tools at our disposal to deliver a cleaner, more secure and more affordable energy system in Europe.’ Once again, solar thermal technologies tick all the boxes: they are decarbonised, produced in Europe and affordable thanks to their lifespan of over 25 years.
Within the framework of the Citizens Energy Package, we regret an approach to affordability that focuses too much on electricity prices and electrification. As mentioned in the Citizens Energy Package, heating accounts for 65% of energy needs and hot water for 15%. Thus, this focus on electrification does not take into account the current reality of citizens’ energy needs and overlooks the potential of renewable heating technologies, especially solar thermal energy. Consumer empowerment and the fight against energy poverty depend on these technologies! Here are our takeaways:
- Action 3: Boosting the use of clean and energy-efficient technologies. To be effective, this action must not overlook off-grid technologies such as solar thermal. We need to reduce peak loads through direct renewable heat technologies. In this context, solar thermal energy must absolutely be considered by the European Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition.
- Action 5: Boosting energy self-production and energy sharing among citizens. Energy communities should consider more renewable heat sharing, to improve the uptake of technologies such as solar thermal.
- Action 8: Joining forces to reduce energy poverty. Energy poverty is heating poverty, therefore, the Recommendation on energy poverty by the European Commission is the chance to highlight renewable heating technologies such as solar thermal should play a role.
With regard to the Clean Energy Investment Strategy, despite a strong emphasis on electrical technologies and power grids, we welcome the Commission’s willingness to mobilise private funds to enable the transition. Our takeaways on this text:
- EIB’s intention to release more than EUR 75 billion of financing over the next three years in support of the objectives of the energy transition. These funds must be used for the uptake of solar thermal technologies manufactured in Europe!
- Energy efficiency: Solar thermal energy is a major contributor to energy efficiency in both industry and buildings. Several interesting initiatives are underway in this area, including a pilot scheme aiming to leverage EUR 500 million in financing to also accelerate the offer and uptake of ‘energy efficiency as a service’ models. The Energy Efficiency for SMEs Initiative is also a positive step forward.
- Action 3: De-risking innovative clean energy generation technologies and long-duration storage. This axis is crucial for achieving the transition in Europe, but for the moment it only mentions electrical technologies. Innovation will require the decarbonisation of half of our needs: heat.