Solar panels would become mandatory on all new buildings under a new EU proposal aimed at ending the continent’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2027 and accelerating its green energy transition.
The European Commission published its new REPowerEU Plan yesterday, which includes a “solar rooftop initiative.” The initiative would introduce a phased-in legal obligation to install solar panels on new public and commercial buildings, as well as new residential buildings.
Leading the commission’s work on the European Green Deal is Frans Timmermans, who said that the EU can lead by example and show as a commission how quickly they can put solar panels on buildings across Europe.
This initiative is part of the European Commission’s drive to scale up and speeds up renewable energy in power generation, industry, buildings, and transport, and to speed up the green energy transition.
The detailed REPowerEU Plan comes after the European Commission called for a rapid phase-out of Russian fossil fuels, and to accelerate the European Green Deal.
The new plan is a response to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
In March, the European Union’s executive arm said the acceleration of the European Green Deal was necessary. The European leaders then agreed to fully phase out the continent’s dependency on Russian fossil fuels, including gas, oil, and coal, as soon as possible. A plan on how to do so was requested, which is the REPowerEU plan.
There are three main pillars in the plan: diversification of energy supplies, an accelerated roll-out of renewable energy, and energy savings.
By 2030, solar energy will become the largest electricity source in the EU with more than half coming from the rooftops of buildings, according to the EU commissioner for energy.
Timmermans said there is huge potential for rooftop solar, as well as on and offshore wind, and increased biomethane production.
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