REPowerEU / EU REPower Plan – Solar obligation for buildings: Additional boost for high-performance PV systems – also with solar carport solar roofs

The energy transition declared by the German government and the reduction in dependence on Russian gas triggered by the war in Ukraine have led to renewable energies moving even more into focus. Besides wind power, it is primarily photovoltaics that are intended to meet future energy demands. To ensure this, both the government in Berlin and the EU Commission are planning measures such as the introduction of a solar panel mandate for buildings. This is intended to help achieve the EU's increased target for the contribution of renewable energies, raised from 40% to 45%. Manufacturers and suppliers of PV systems can therefore expect a significant increase in demand.

EU President Ursula von der Leyen intends for mandatory photovoltaic systems on buildings to be a key component in achieving the ambitious goal of climate neutrality. The plan is to require businesses, public authorities, and private homeowners to generate electricity from solar energy on their roofs.

While current plans call for the mandatory installation of photovoltaic systems in residential buildings to be implemented by 2029, stricter rules apply to public and commercial buildings: the obligation to install PV systems in these buildings should be implemented by 2025.

The project is to be achieved with the help of the EU's "REPower" plan, which von der Leyen recently presented publicly. In it, she stated the goal of "becoming independent of Russian fossil fuels as quickly as possible." The commitment to installing rooftop photovoltaic systems by 2025 or 2029 is ambitious, but quite realistic, according to the EU President. The project is to be supported by improved administrative processes. For example, permits are to be processed more quickly in the future by EU member states establishing corresponding central contact points within their authorities.

The streamlined decision-making processes are intended to enable approval processes of less than a year, instead of applicants having to wait an average of six to nine years for official approval, as is often the case now. But the EU Commission wants even more. Decisions on the construction of rooftop PV systems in certain areas should be possible within a few months. At the same time, such a short timeframe should generally apply to smaller PV systems with a capacity of less than 150 kilowatts.

Should the strategy be successfully implemented, the EU Commission anticipates a massive increase in energy generation using solar technology. The goal is to achieve a DC power output of 640 gigawatts in the EU by the end of the decade using photovoltaics. European PV manufacturers are somewhat more cautious in their assessment. However, they too predict that a DC power output of at least 672 gigawatts is possible by 2030. This demonstrates the immense, untapped potential of PV technology.

A potential solar panel mandate would not only apply to new or renovated rooftops. German authorities also want to tap into a largely untapped potential: public parking lots. These occupy thousands of hectares in Germany, an area that is currently hardly used for energy generation.

But this amounts to an enormous waste of potential, as the total possible output of solar energy generated in parking lots is gigantic. According to a 2021 study, equipping just 50% of the approximately 16,600 public parking lots with at least 40 spaces with solar panels could generate a massive 2.4 gigawatts of energy. Thus, by covering half of the parking lots in front of supermarkets, shopping centers, stadiums, or public facilities, a nominal output could be achieved that would otherwise require the installation of well over 1,000 high-performance wind turbines.

If mandatory solar panels are introduced for parking spaces (solar carports), millions of households and electric cars could be supplied with energy. This regulation would contribute to the successful advancement of the energy transition being promoted by the government. A prerequisite for this is modern solar roofs that can be installed in parking spaces without taking up too much space. This space is extremely valuable, as cars are becoming increasingly wider and the current parking space width of between 2.0 and 2.5 meters is already quite limited.

Whether it's a private household with a carport or a supermarket operator with 100 parking spaces in front of the store: PV parking spaces initially cost money. However, in return, PV systems offer the opportunity to produce energy using solar power, not only for one's own consumption. Through feed-in tariffs to the electricity grid, a new source of income can even be created.

Several German states have already mandated solar power systems, specifically for:

• Residential buildings and non-residential buildings
• Private and commercial new buildings
• During roof renovations
• Open parking spaces (solar carport/ solar charging stations)

However, the situation varies from state to state. Not every state supports a solar carportrequirement or a solar panel requirement for new private buildings.

Regarding mandatory solar panel installations, the German states of Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg, Bremen, and Berlin are currently the most advanced. These states already have firm legal regulations in place.

Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein are close to it.

A solar panel mandate will not be introduced in Bavaria for the time being. Minister-President Söder prefers a nationwide solar panel mandate. The requirement to install solar panels on new buildings, which Söder promised a year ago, will not be implemented for now.

It is currently unclear whether and when similar regulations will follow in the federal states of Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Brandenburg, Saarland, and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Introduction of a solar/photovoltaic obligation for new buildings:

• Baden-Württemberg (Solar obligation starts in 2022)
• Berlin (Solar obligation begins in 2023)
• Hamburg (Solar obligation begins in 2023)
• Rhineland-Palatinate (Solar obligation starts in 2023)
• Bremen (start date of solar obligation not yet known)
• Lower Saxony (Solar Mandatory Act Draft)
• Schleswig-Holstein (draft solar obligation law)

Introduction of a solar carport requirement / obligation to install a solar parking space canopy for new open parking spaces above a certain size:

• Baden-Württemberg (Solar carport obligation starting in 2022)
• North Rhine-Westphalia (Solar carport obligation starting in 2022)
• Rhineland-Palatinate (Solar carport obligation starting in 2023)
• Schleswig-Holstein (draft law mandating solar carports)

REPowerEU is a proposal by the European Commission to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels before 2030 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022

The European Commission has presented the REPowerEU plan – Image: MDart10|Shutterstock.com

The European Commission has presented the REPowerEU plan as a response to the strains and disruptions on the global energy market caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Transforming Europe's energy system is urgent for two reasons: it will end the EU's dependence on fossil fuels from Russia, which are used as an economic and political weapon and cost European taxpayers nearly €100 billion annually, and it will contribute to tackling the climate crisis. By acting as a union, Europe can end its dependence on fossil fuels from Russia more quickly. 85% of Europeans believe the EU should reduce its reliance on Russian gas and oil as soon as possible to support Ukraine. The measures in the REPowerEU plan will help achieve this goal through energy savings, diversification of energy supplies, and the accelerated deployment of renewable energy to replace fossil fuels in homes, industry, and power generation.

The green transition in Europe will drive economic growth and security while strengthening climate action. The Recovery and Resilience Facility (ARF) is central to the REPowerEU plan and supports coordinated planning and financing of cross-border and national infrastructure, as well as energy projects and reforms. The Commission is proposing targeted amendments to the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation to incorporate specific REPowerEU chapters into Member States' existing Recovery and Resilience Plans, alongside the numerous relevant reforms and investments already included. The country-specific recommendations from the 2022 European Semester cycle will feed into this process.

Related to this:

• REPowerEU: The REPower plan to rapidly reduce dependence on fossil fuels from Russia and accelerate the ecological transition