EU proposals for the mandatory inclusion of solar panels on new buildings
As reported by Earth.org the European Commission has put forward proposals to make the inclusion of solar panels mandatory on all new buildings in the European Union by 2029. The fuel for this proposal is the aim of dispensing with the EU’s reliance on Russian gas and oil following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Whilst the goal is a noble one, a few obstacles spring to mind. Firstly, who will pay for this technology? The cost of rolling out this proposal is expected to be in the region of 210 billion euros. The cost of energy improvements in the UK typically falls on the private sector, so it will be interesting to see how the EU plan to fund their endeavour.
Another issue is the competing needs for rooftop space. Particularly in respect of commercial buildings, rooftop space is loaded with the plant that keeps the building running. In addition, the tenants of multi-let properties (such as shopping centres) often each have their own external plant. The EU also intends to double the rate of instalment of heat pumps, which will need their own space. How much capacity for solar panels will there be on each building and will there be a mandatory minimum? If the proposals are put into effect, we may see a springboard effect of innovative technological advancements on the types of solar panels available. For example, in the future could we see our windows doubling up as solar panels?
Lastly, how will they manage issues such as energy storage and grid capacity? Will the electricity generated be used locally or sold to the grid? Will local and national grids need to be upgraded to cope with the additional connections? Will we see a roll out of the popular battery storage, or will larger scale storage facilities pop up around the EU?
Despite these difficulties, it would be great to see this level of commitment to cleaner energy production being achieved. And if the proposals come to fruition, there may be gains for the UK as well in terms of technological advancements and tested solutions to problems encountered along the way.
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https://earth.org/eu-set-to-make-solar-panels-mandatory-on-all-new-buildings/