Will have requirements for solar panels on public and private buildings in Norway
The war in Ukraine has seriously shown how vulnerable the EU and its member states are when it comes to energy supply.
At the same time, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has meant that the green shift has really taken off in the EU.
The European Commission has been working hard and presented a few days ago an ambitious energy plan: REPowerEU.
Legal obligation
This plan presents the proposal to “phase in a legal obligation to install solar panels on new public and commercial buildings and new residential buildings.”
More popularly said: the EU wants to introduce requirements for solar panels in both private and public buildings.
To TV 2, press contact for the EU Commission, Giulia Bedini, says that from 2026 they want to put in place statutory requirements for the use of solar panels.
Among other things, the European Commission wants to make the installation of solar energy mandatory for:
ONElle new public and commercial buildings with usable floor area greater than 250 m2 by 2026.
ONEAll existing public and commercial buildings with a useful floor area greater than 250 m2 by 2027.
ONElle new residential buildings by 2029.
SV: – Inspiring
SV’s environmental policy spokesman, Lars Haltbrekken, is very pleased with the EU’s solar energy initiative.
– This is incredibly good and shows that the future is renewable, and not fossil. Norway has an enormous potential for utilizing solar energy, we must be inspired by what the EU does and set goals for the development of solar energy in Norway, says Lars Haltbrekken to TV 2.
Haltbrekken, which is a member of the Environment and Energy Committee in the Storting, says that SV wants it to produce at least 8 terrawatt hours of solar energy by 2030.
By comparison, Norwegian hydropower produces 140 terrawatt hours a year.
– We will order new buildings to use solar panels and we propose in the new energy report that it will be easier to share solar energy between homes and buildings, says Haltbrekken.
The environmental foundation Zero cheers
– We think it is very positive that the EU Commission presents a number of proposals to phase out fossil energy use. It is about the green shift, but just as much about energy security in Europe, says Stig Schjølset, head of the Zero Environmental Foundation.
He says it is now a huge investment in many areas.
– How much is due to the war in Ukraine?
– This is without a doubt the main reason why the EU is accelerating its efforts, but there has been a recognition that the EU is too dependent on imports of coal, oil and gas.
Even before the start of the Ukraine war, European energy policy was in serious trouble.
– But you now turn to some extra tricks in relation to all the proposals on the table, Schjølset believes.
– What political response do you think an injunction on the use of solar panels will have here at home?
– If this is adopted, there is no reason for Norway to be about adaptation or exceptions, Schjølset believes.
He points out that a bill from the EU Commission is to be considered by the member states and in the EU Parliament. It can take up to years, but can come faster.
Challenges
The challenges that have arisen in the global energy market and which are caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have seriously shown how vulnerable many of the EU’s member states are.
“It is doubly urgent to transform Europe’s energy system: to end the EU’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels, which are used as economic and political weapons and cost European taxpayers almost 100 billion euros a year. By acting as a union, Europe can phase out its dependence on Russian fossil fuels faster “, writes the European Commission on its website.
Here you can read what European Commission writes about the topic.
The EU believes they can manage to cut as much as two thirds of Russian gas already this year and in the long run make themselves completely independent of Russia.
Tax measures
RePowerEU states that solar energy is the fastest way to expand and mitigate the impact of the energy price crisis Europe is currently experiencing.
The EU Commission also encourages the use of tax measures to encourage energy savings, somewhat reduced VAT rates on energy-efficient heating systems, building insulation and appliances and products.
The Commission also proposes to increase the overall 2030 target for renewable energy from 40 per cent to 45 per cent.
The EU sets a goal of 320 GW (AC) of new solar power by 2025, with a goal of 600 GW by 2030. To achieve this, a number of obstacles must be removed that currently stand in the way of faster development, writes Solenerigiklyngen.
Following the invasion of Ukraine, the argument for a rapid transition to clean energy has never been stronger and clearer, according to the European Commission
EU importers account for 90 per cent of their gas consumption, and Russia accounts for around 45 per cent of these imports, at varying levels across member states. Russia also accounts for around 25 percent of oil imports and 45 percent of coal imports.