Last week, the European Commission presented a proposal, called RePowerEU, to phase out dependence on Russian fossil fuels and rapidly accelerate the transition to green energy.
In 2020, renewable energy accounted for 22% of EU countries’ energy consumption. The EU’s renewable energy target is now being raised from 40% to 45%, mainly by increasing the share of energy from solar and wind. By 2025, the aim is to double the capacity from solar power and by 2030 to reach 600 GW of solar power.
EU Solar Energy Strategy
As part of REPowerEU, the EU has developed a specific solar strategy to accelerate the construction of solar energy on both roofs and the ground. The reason the EU gives solar energy such a central role in the energy transition is that it is the fastest and cheapest to deploy.
In short, the strategy consists of four elements, all of which aim to accelerate the deployment of green energy and thus move away from dependence on Russian natural gas and oil:
- Simplify the decision-making process to make it easier to deploy solar and wind energy on a larger scale.
- Make it mandatory to install solar panels on all commercial and public buildings over 250 sqm built from 2026. In 2029 it will be mandatory for residential buildings as well.
- Ensure the availability of a skilled workforce to meet the challenge of producing and distributing solar energy across the EU.
- Facilitate the development and production of solar cells in Europe through the European Solar PV Industry Alliance.
Calculations have shown that rooftop solar installations alone could cover nearly 25% of the EU’s total energy consumption, which alone is more than the share of natural gas consumed today. But far from all roofs are optimal for installation, which is where solar parks come in as an important complement. There is no doubt that solar energy will be an important part of Europe’s future energy supply and a major part of the solution to the current energy crisis. It’s an exciting challenge that lies ahead and one that Energy Engagement is ready to take on.
