Page 13 - European Energy Innovation magazine - autumn 2022 edition

Autumn 2022 European Energy Innovation
SOLAR EPBD 13

Integrating solar energy into the Pakistan, where one-third of the Currently, 72% of renovations are self- Rooftop solar PV in a sense is a low

country is currently completely funded, yet only 18% consumers are hanging fruit if we want to see a swift
Europe's build environment submerged due to historic fl ooding. taking loans to renovate their homes, and cost effective ramp up of green
power capacity. Approximately half
as they are too expensive. This is
These compounding factors will
make the next few years diffi cult,
of navigating the subsidy schemes
to put it mildly, but it must spore compounded by the complexity of the energy consumed in Europe is
used for heating and cooling, most
By Sean Kelly, MEP (pictured) governments to take concrete action. and seeking technical expertise. of this is based on fossil fuels. Solar
Those barriers are even bigger for heating & cooling (SHC) technologies
To reduce dependency on fossil fuels, deep renovation projects. The EPBD can displace the need to use natural
particularly gas, it is clear that further should seek to establish fi rmer links gas, protecting consumers from
action is needed to reduce buildings’ between the fi nancial sector and the fl uctuations energy prices.
energy consumption. A massive renovation sector.
scale-up in renewable energy in By 2030, the Commission has said
power generation, industry, buildings The energy crisis has highlighted the that solar energy could provide a
and transport will accelerate our need to utilise available resources, quarter of the EU’s electricity, which
phasing out of Russian fossil fuels. It from a buildings perspective, solar is more than is currently generated in
will also, over time, lower electricity becomes an ever more attractive gas-fi red power stations. The energy
prices and reduce fossil fuel imports. investment. The use of energy saving system must undergo a fundamental
and generation technologies will be change, the envisaged mass
Buildings are responsible for 36% of pivotal for buildings. These are cost installations of solar generation will
greenhouse gas emissions and 40% effective solutions with a high yield create millions of “prosumers”, who
of the energy consumption in the EU. on return of investment, allowing both produce and consume energy.
It is clear they need to be suffi ciently use to utilise much cleaner primary This is my view will aid the speed
addressed if we are to reach our energy consumption. of the energy transition as citizens
climate targets. There is no question become more directly involved.
of that. The ‘Solar Rooftop Initiative’, a core
element of the REPowerEU plan Millions of homes and buildings
As the main EU-level legal instrument unveiled, includes a proposal to across the EU have potential not
for decarbonising Member include in the EPBD to make rooftop realised, but we also ensure we have
States’ building stock, the Energy solar photovoltaic (PV) panels the skilled workers on hand to install
Performance of Buildings Directive mandatory on new commercial and the technologies.
will soon take centre stage. public buildings, as well as new
residential buildings by 2029. For this, I believe we need to see a
The slowing economy and increases coordinated and clear effort by the
in cost of living will have signifi cant I represent that Parliaments largest Commission and Member States to
implications for consumer Group, the European Peoples Party address the issue of skills. Member
purchasing power and personal (EPP), in the negotiations of the EPBD. States must invest in capacity
savings. Therefore, we must be In my amendments to this legislation, building, technical assistance and on
aware that imposing obligations I included a new article to address upskilling and reskilling policies to
without providing suffi cient means the rooftop initiative. Of course, solar realise the twin transition of a green
to achieve standards has the generation capacity differs across and digital transition.
potential to increase inequality. the union and Member States should
Those who can afford renovations will have suffi cient fl exibility to operate Over the next few years and decades,
be insulated by rising energy costs, support schemes. Nonetheless, the we will have massive challenges ahead,
while those who cannot will face technology has advanced to the point some of which we may not even fully
rising costs. This point cannot where it is also a viable solution for appreciate yet. However, the role of
be emphasised enough. northern Europe as well as sunnier solar technology will only increase in
south. meeting these challenges. ●
The EPBD will be a very important
piece of legislation. Finding a balance
between the need to revamp the built
environment and not impose undue Seán Kelly MEP has been an MEP for Ireland South since 2009 and is the
fi nancial burden on households and leader of the Fine Gael delegation in the European Parliament. A member of
business will be extremely diffi cult, the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee, Kelly
but necessary. has worked extensively on renewable energy and energy effi ciency policy.

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