l'Actualité du Solaire

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, which are responsible for 36% of emissions, to zero by 2050, the deployment of renewable energy in European cities will have to be accelerated. Yet 75% of buildings in the EU were built before the performance standards were introduced.

According to ETIP PV and SolarPower Europe, buildings covered with PV systems could reduce the ecological footprint, create jobs and improve the quality of life in cities. The main obstacles are low rates of building renovation, slow integration of renewable energy in cities and a historical lack of awareness of the benefits of BIPV. The energy renovation rate would need to increase from 1% to 3% per year if the EU is to meet its long-term energy and climate goals. 200 million buildings are in need of renovation by 2050.

Suggestions include converting the municipal building stock into positive energy buildings, financing mechanisms for private owners by offering energy purchase contracts, and the use of renewable energy sources.The suggestions include financing mechanisms for private owners by offering electricity purchase contracts or BIPV rental possibilities, or incentives for systematic electrification of buildings, heating and cooling and transport.

PV Magazine of June 28th

Editor's note What is striking is the gap between what is desirable and what is achieved. Construction is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, but for the time being the political authorities are losing interest in the subject. It's not clear whether it's because it's expensive, because they don't know how to launch energy renovation, or because the political leaders are from another generation where ecology was not an issue.