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The European Union wants to facilitate the big start-up of solar energy and at the same time build a solar production industry in Europe. The plan is part of a strategy to end its dependence on Russian fossil fuels, especially natural gas, by 2030. The EU currently receives about 40% of its gas from Russia at a cost of more than $ 110 million a day.
By 2030, half of the EU’s energy will come from sustainable sources, which, according to the European Commission’s plan called RepowerEU, is more than double the current amount. It costs hundreds of billions of euros, but most of this money comes from savings on imported fuel. However, rapid action is needed to achieve this goal.
Under this plan, the EU has put in place a number of measures, from doubling the rate of heat pump deployment to creating areas where renewable energy sources can be used. As part of these measures, the European Commission has also introduced the Solar Roof Initiative which will make it mandatory in 2029 to install solar panels in new public and commercial buildings as well as in new residential buildings.
How will Europe transition to solar energy?
Under the REPowerEU plan, the EU aims to operate 320 GW of photovoltaic solar energy by 2025 (more than doubling compared to 2020) and almost 600 GW by 2030. By 2030, the EU will reach an average of 45 GW per year to be installed.
To achieve this, the EU relies heavily on the Solar Roof Initiative. According to some estimates, rooftop photovoltaics can supply almost 25% of the EU’s electricity consumption – more than the share of natural gas today. These devices can be deployed quickly while protecting consumers from high energy prices, the EU said. In fact, this shift could make energy cheaper than at the current level.
The plan requires the EU and national governments to limit the length of roofing permits for solar installations, including large ones, to a maximum of three months – which should happen this year. Skylights are required for new public and commercial buildings in 2027 and for residential buildings in 2029.
To this end, the EU will build support structures for roof systems, including a combination of energy storage and heat pumps, based on foreseeable payment periods of less than 10 years. The plan is expected to add 19 TWh of electricity after the first year of its implementation – and then a total of 58 TWh of electricity in 2025.
In the area of energy savings, the European Commission also wants to increase its current target of reducing energy consumption by 2030 by energy efficiency, from 9% to 13%. It also called on governments to implement policies to increase energy savings, such as reducing taxes on energy-efficient heating and insulation systems for buildings.
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