The new EU directive provides for solar energy for 56 million homes.

The new European solar energy standard, officially adopted with the publication of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive in the Official Journal of the EU on May 8, is poised to be a significant breakthrough for energy sustainability.

The introduction of this regulation could make it possible to provide solar energy to 56 million European homes if properly implemented.

The New Directive Triples Solar Energy on Roofs

According to a preliminary analysis by SolarPower Europe, the implementation of the directive could facilitate the installation of 150-200 GW of rooftop solar panels in the coming years. This goal is based on the assumption that 60% of public buildings are compatible and meet the solar standards proposed by the EU.

The total potential of rooftops, as estimated by the EU Joint Research Center earlier this year, is 560 GW.

Jan Osenberg, Senior Policy Advisor at SolarPower Europe, highlighted the strategic importance of the new regulation: “This law will push the adoption of rooftop solar to become a common practice, allowing more buildings, businesses, and citizens to access clean, renewable, and affordable energy.”

The directive mandates that all new buildings be designed to be compatible with solar installations, encouraging the adoption of this technology from the construction phase, a move that, according to BloombergNEF, could increase the return on solar investment from 8% to 11% compared to retroactive installations.

Additionally, the adoption of the solar standard will promote more equitable access to solar energy, especially in apartment buildings, reducing barriers to the adoption of these technologies.

The legislation stipulates that the solar rooftop standard be applied to new non-residential and public buildings by 2027, existing non-residential buildings undergoing major renovations by 2028, new residential buildings by 2030, and all eligible existing public buildings by 2031. Large buildings such as offices, shopping centers, and parking lots will be particularly affected, while structures like agricultural and historical buildings may be excluded.

Solar Energy: Photovoltaics as a Gateway to Smarter Electrification

Osenberg also emphasized the crucial role of rooftop photovoltaics in electrification: “It should be seen as a gateway to smarter electrification. Using solar to power heating and vehicles can reduce home energy costs, and by integrating these systems with electric vehicles and heat pumps, the impact on the electric grid can be minimized, even providing direct support during peak grid stress periods.”

The total capacity of rooftop solar energy in Europe reached over 170 GW by the end of 2023, and this growth is expected to continue, reaching 355 GW by the end of 2027. This increase will not only be due to the obligations imposed by the new law but also the growing interest of citizens in protecting themselves from the volatility of fossil fuel prices. Finally, the implementation of this directive could stimulate local employment in the solar sector, with the number of workers employed potentially being 2 to 7 times higher than in other renewable energy sectors, according to IRENA estimates.