Buildings & Prosumers

Buildings in the EU are responsible for about 40% of energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonising buildings is therefore crucial to tackle the climate crisis.

Solar is key to powering decarbonised buildings and neighbourhoods. Solar is easily deployed on building roofs with standard solar panels. Solar can also be installed throughout building façades and on heritage listed buildings with the integration of solar cells into construction products, commonly known as Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).

Solar-powered buildings can generate renewable electricity to power electric vehicles; the electricity can also be stored, or traded within the local community.

Altogether solar has huge potential to decarbonise our buildings: according to conservative estimates, deploying solar on all suitable rooftops in the EU would meet about 25% of its electricity consumption. However, today only 10% of the EU’s rooftop potential is utilised and BIPV represents only about 3% of all the installed solar capacity in the EU.

Harnessing this potential will require integrating better on-site solar in buildings and renovation policies through the creation of an ambitious and proportionate solar mandate for new, renovated and existing buildings. Financing and funding schemes, including innovative energy as a service models, must be set up to make on-site solar accessible to consumers, particularly those that are more vulnerable.

Furthermore, robust regulatory frameworks must properly value solar kWhs. Self-consumption schemes, both individual and collective, must be properly implemented. They will form the basis for the future decentralised energy system and provide a growth opportunity for EU businesses.