As part of the review of the European Union’s climate legislation, Solar Heat Europe contributed to the European Commission’s call for evidence on the update of three major frameworks:
- The Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action
- The post-2030 renewable energy framework
- The post-2030 energy efficiency framework
These three pieces of legislation set the path to achieving EU’s energy transition and reaching climate goals, notably a 90% reduction by 2040, and climate neutrality by 2050. The current framework provides a comprehensive set of measures, targets and obligations up to 2030, ensuring progress in energy efficiency, renewable deployment and coordinated national planning under the Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action. However, as the 2030 horizon approaches, the revision intends to ensure continuity and ambition beyond this milestone.
As a renewable energy source, Solar Heat Europe’s main ask is to preserve the overall framework stability and maintain its level of ambitions. The legislation must not be watered down, considering the progress made and the improvements still to be achieved. Ambitious targets for 2040 must be set.
Our key recommendations to the Commission:
- Maintain and strengthen ambitious and binding EU renewable energy and energy efficiency targets
- Recognise the importance of heating and cooling in the transition and the role played by solar thermal technologies
- Consider all renewable energy sources on an equal footing
- Promote energy sources that reinforce energy security, resilience and that are manufactured in the EU, such as solar thermal technologies
- Invest now in the deployment of such technologies, particularly through dedicated funds
By updating the climate legislation in this way, a clean transition maintaining European ambition is possible. By accelerating the roll-out of solar thermal technologies, the European Commission will make the energy transition happen while ensuring energy security and energy sovereignty.
Check our contributions: