The provisional agreement reached between the European Parliament and the European Council on energy efficiency rules for buildings will also make rooftop solar mandatory for all new public and commercial buildings by 2026, says SolarPower Europe (SPE).
Additionally, it will enable rooftop solar for all new residential buildings by 2029, on non-residential buildings that undergo a relevant renovation by 2027, and on all existing public buildings by 2030, according to the European solar PV lobby association.
The agreement was reached on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPDB), a part of the Fit for 55 package. It entails all European Union (EU) Member States to ensure that all new buildings are solar-ready.
SPE's Policy Advisor Jan Osenberg said the European Commission presented the measure as part of the EU Solar Rooftop Strategy to counter the energy crisis.
"Large scale deployment of solar energy on buildings would make a major contribution to shielding more effectively consumers from increasing and volatile prices of fossil fuels, reduce the exposure of vulnerable citizens to high energy costs and result in wider environmental, economic and social benefits," reads the EU document.
Osenberg said it will strengthen the efficient integration of PV installations into building construction processes. For example, roof constructions will need to be combined with solar installations, thus reducing costs and bringing down the cost of labor.
The association now demands the EU to ensure effective integration of the directive into construction practices and building requirements. At the same time, it should facilitate access to private financing solutions, especially for innovative solutions like solar on building façades, it adds.
Led by the SPE, 18 organizations have been lobbying for the EU to have an ambitious rooftop solar mandate (see Demand For Rooftop Solar On All Roofs In European Union).
To become a law, the agreement now needs to be endorsed and formally adopted by both the EU Parliament as well as the Council.