Solar energy seems to have many advantages: it is cheap, clean and has been the fastest-growing energy source in the last decade. It can be used for electricity, heating, and help to reduce the EU’s dependency on energy imports. However, several challenges remain. Let’s see how the European Union will face these challenges and how the use of solar energy could help the Union in its green transition towards climate neutrality.

Solar energy in the EU - English

The EU solar energy strategy proposed under the REPowerEU plan aims to make solar energy a cornerstone of the EU energy system. Boosting renewable energy is also an important part of the European Green Deal in the context of the green transition towards climate neutrality. Solar energy is affordable, clean and has been the fastest-growing energy source in the last decade. It can be used for electricity and heating, while also helping reduce EU dependency on energy imports by replacing them with domestic production. EU measures to boost solar energy include making the installation of solar panels on the rooftops of new buildings obligatory within a specific timeframe, streamlining permitting procedures for renewable energy projects, improving the skills base in the solar sector and boosting the EU's capacity to manufacture photovoltaic panels.

EPRS policy podcast - Solar energy in the EU

Clean energy is energy produced and consumed with a minimum of greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.

The transition to clean energy requires large investments in all areas of energy use: electricity generation, transport, heating and cooling, and also industrial activities. Reducing energy demand by means of energy efficiency measures also helps to lower the emissions associated with energy use.

Clean energy

The energy union strategy aims at building an energy union that gives EU consumers - households and businesses - secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy.&nbsp;The five pillars of the Energy Union are:&nbsp;accelerating decarbonisation with the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) and renewables at is core; scaling up energy efficiency; enhancing energy security and safety; strengthening the internal market; research, innovation and competitiveness.&nbsp; Since 2021, Europe has experienced a hike in energy prices that is part of a global surge. The&nbsp;Russian invasion of Ukraine&nbsp;in 2022 has further affected the energy markets, causing new increases of energy prices and concerns over the EU’s ability to secure its energy supply. &nbsp;

Energy union

A European Energy Union will ensure that Europe has secure, affordable and climate-friendly energy.

Wiser energy use while fighting climate change is both a spur for new jobs and growth and an investment in Europe's future.

The state of the Energy Union shows progress made since the Energy Union Framework Strategy was adopted to bring about the transition to a low-carbon, secure and competitive economy. 
The “Clean Energy for all Europeans” package consists of several legislative proposals and three communications on the energy market, energy efficiency, renewables, eco-design and governance of the Energy Union.

Energy union -  8th parliamentary term

Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the disruption of Russian gas supplies has led to skyrocketing electricity prices and market volatility, leading the Commission and member states to consider new policy options such as capping prices or decoupling of gas and electricity prices. In recent months, Parliament and Council have adopted an&nbsp;emergency plan for filling gas reserves.

The Commission has also launched the&nbsp;RepowerEU&nbsp;plan to reduce the&nbsp;dependency from Russia, diversify gas supplies, speed up the roll-out of renewable gases and replace gas in heating and power generation as well as&nbsp;EU-wide gas consumption reduction measures.

This can&nbsp;reduce EU demand for Russian gas by two thirds before the end of the year. The EC came with proposals how to deal with the problem during the SOTEU speech of Ursula von der Leyen.

European Union countries agreed on 30th September on series of meeasures, including energy levies on windfall profits of energy companies or binding targets to reduce electricity consumption.

Energy prices

Voting session

MEPs debate and take a final vote on the reform of the EU electricity market to protect consumers from sudden price shocks and on new rules to facilitate the uptake of renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, on the EU’s gas market.

Plenary debate - Reform of the energy and electricity markets

EP Mini-Plenary Session - Joint debate - Reform of the energy and electricity markets

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - State of the EU solar industry in the light of unfair competition

EP Plenary session - Geothermal energy

Press conference on the gas and hydrogen markets directive

EP Plenary session - Renewable Energy, Energy Performance of Buildings and Energy Efficiency Directives: amendments (REPowerEU)

Press conference on the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive

ECON - ENVI joint committee - Exchange of views with Mairead McGuinness, Commissioner for financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union on the complementary Taxonomy Delegated Act

EP Plenary session - A European strategy for offshore renewable energy

Aerial view of wind turbines in Ottange, Northeastern France

Renewable energy - solar panels on factory rooftop

Press conference on the Clean Energy Package.

EP plenary session - Joint debate - Clean Energy package

Press conference on ' Clean Energy Package '

Plenary session week 3 2018 in Strasbourg - VOTES followed by explanations of votes - Promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources - Report: José Blanco López

Plenary session week 3 2018 in Strasbourg - Debate on energy efficiency, renewables and the governance of the Energy Union.

Offshore wind farm - Wind turbine

Clean technologies are at the forefront of the EU's ambition to pursue both decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness. The global clean tech market is expected to triple by 2035, covering sectors such as solar, wind, batteries, heat pumps and electrolysers for the production of hydrogen. While the roll-out of clean technologies is increasing in the EU, its global market share is falling and manufacturing is lagging behind.

EPRS - Clean tech in the energy sector

The "Energy Cells" is a project that consists of a system of four energy storage devices (batteries) with a total capacity of 200 megawatts (MW) and 200 megawatt-hours (MWh) into Lithuania’s energy system. Energy Cells has four 50 MW and 50 MWh energy storage facilities at transformer substations in Vilnius, Šiauliai, Alytus, and Utena. It is currently the largest project in the Baltics and one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Energy Cells received 87.6 million euros from the NextGenerationEU, the Recovery and Resilience Facility under the “New Generation Lithuania” plan for the installation of the energy storage system. The total value of the project, which will provide Lithuania with the instantaneous power reserve and the possibility to operate autonomously in isolated mode, is of 109 million euros.

Infoclip: Integrated system for batteries "Energy Cells" - Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) - Vilnius (Lithuania)

This news item shows extracts from the signature of six COD LEX texts by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and José Manuel ALBARES BUENO, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the Council. The six COD LEX texts are about consumer credits, ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport , on the promotion of energy from renewable sources, on geographical indication protection for craft and industrial products, on establishing the European defence industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act and on the labelling of organic pet food.

LEX signing ceremony: signature of six COD LEX texts by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and José Manuel ALBARES BUENO, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the Council

The Parliament debate on a new legislation to increase the use of renewable energy in line with the EU’s Green Deal and REPowerEU initiatives. The directive, already informally agreed with the Council, is intended to raise the share of renewables in the EU’s final energy consumption to 42.5% by 2030. Member states are urged to aim for 45%. The new law will also speed up the approval process for new renewable energy power plants, such as solar and wind farms, as well as the adaptation of existing ones. Opening statement by Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, by Nils TORVALDS (Renew Europe, FI), Rapporteurs, Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Barbara THALER (EPP, AT) and Carmen AVRAM (S&D, RO), Rapporteurs for ENVI, TRAN and AGRI Committees. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Renewable energy directive: Opening statement by Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, by Nils TORVALDS (Renew Europe, FI), Rapporteur, Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Barbara THALER (EPP, AT) and Carmen AVRAM, Rapporteur

Parliament adopt new legislation to increase the use of renewable energy in line with the EU’s Green Deal and REPowerEU initiatives. The directive, already informally agreed with the Council, is intended to raise the share of renewables in the EU’s final energy consumption to 42.5% by 2030. Member States are urged to aim for 45%. The new law will also speed up the approval process for new renewable energy power plants, such as solar and wind farms, as well as the adaptation of existing ones. Extracts from the debate (11/09); extracts from the vote (14/09); and statement by Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur

Renewable energy directive: extracts from the debate (11/09); extracts from the vote (14/09); and statement by Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur

The Parliament debate on a new legislation to increase the use of renewable energy in line with the EU’s Green Deal and REPowerEU initiatives. The directive, already informally agreed with the Council, is intended to raise the share of renewables in the EU’s final energy consumption to 42.5% by 2030. Member states are urged to aim for 45%. The new law will also speed up the approval process for new renewable energy power plants, such as solar and wind farms, as well as the adaptation of existing ones. Closing statement by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy and Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur.

Renewable energy directive: closing statement by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy and Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur

The Parliament debate on a new legislation to increase the use of renewable energy in line with the EU’s Green Deal and REPowerEU initiatives. The directive, already informally agreed with the Council, is intended to raise the share of renewables in the EU’s final energy consumption to 42.5% by 2030. Member states are urged to aim for 45%. The new law will also speed up the approval process for new renewable energy power plants, such as solar and wind farms, as well as the adaptation of existing ones.

Renewable energy directive: MEPs debate

Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur on the revision of the renewable energy directive holds a press conference in the European Parliament, in Brussels. The transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please, check against delivery.

Press conference by Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur on the revision of the renewable energy directive

This infoclip shows the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure with electric cars, electric and hybrid public transport, hydrogen train and hydrogen refuel stations for trucks . On 14 July 2021, the European Commission presented a package of proposals to equip the EU's climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030, compared with 1990 levels – the 'fit for 55' package. The package includes a proposal to revise the 2014 directive on alternative fuels infrastructure and turn it into a regulation.

Infoclip: Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure

On 19 November 2020, the European Commission published an EU Strategy to harness the potential of offshore renewable energy for a climate neutral future. The Offshore Renewable Strategy was widely anticipated as part of the European Green Deal. The Offshore Renewable Strategy aims to dramatically increase the EU's production of electricity from offshore renewable energy sources from the current 12 gigawatts (GW) to 60GW by 2030 and 300GW by 2050. MEPs say that a net-zero emissions economy requires renewable energy to be deployed on an unprecedented scale. MEPs highlight that the cost of offshore wind has fallen dramatically in the last two decades (declining by 48% between 2010 and 2020), making it one of the most competitively priced sources of energy. This illustrative footage shows regular and aerial drone views of traditional wind energy as well as aerial drone views of an offshore wind energy.

Infoclip: Renewable energy – wind turbines

A revision of the Renewable Energy Directive as amended by Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee would raise the share of renewables in the EU's overall energy consumption to 45% by 2030. Under the proposal, renewables deployment in the transport sector should lead to a 16% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, through the use of higher shares of advanced biofuels and a more ambitious quota for renewable fuels of non-biological origin, like hydrogen. Closing statement by Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur and Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport.

Renewable Energy Directive: closing statement by Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur and Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport

A revision of the Renewable Energy Directive as amended by Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee would raise the share of renewables in the EU's overall energy consumption to 45% by 2030. Under the proposal, renewables deployment in the transport sector should lead to a 16% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, through the use of higher shares of advanced biofuels and a more ambitious quota for renewable fuels of non-biological origin, like hydrogen.

Renewable Energy Directive: MEPs debate

A revision of the Renewable Energy Directive as amended by Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee would raise the share of renewables in the EU's overall energy consumption to 45% by 2030. Under the proposal, renewables deployment in the transport sector should lead to a 16% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, through the use of higher shares of advanced biofuels and a more ambitious quota for renewable fuels of non-biological origin, like hydrogen. Opening statement by Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI) ENVI; Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, Hildegard BENTELE (EPP, DE), Pina PICIERNO (S&D, IT).

Renewable Energy Directive: opening statement by Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, Hildegard BENTELE (EPP, DE), Pina PICIERNO (S&D, IT)

On the 14th September 2022, Ursula von der LEYEN, EC President, delivers her State of the European Union (SOTEU) speech in the European Parliament. This infoclip illustrates one of the main stake of the coming year: the rising prices of energy, EU citizens' purchasing power hit by the energy crisis and the concerns around food security, following Russian agression against Ukraine.

Infoclip: Energy, purchasing power and food security

This infoclip illustrates the directive that establishes common principles and rules to remove barriers, stimulate investments and drive cost reductions in renewable energy technologies, and empowers citizens, consumers and businesses to participate in the clean energy transformation. Views of offshore wind energy installation; residential solar power panels, industrial fermentation conversion of organic products into methane biogaz; production site of pellets; hydrogen hybrid power plant; heats pumps using the water of the river. Rights restriction: at 00:00:57:00 : copyright Monnaie-Groupe Decube.

Infoclip: Renewable Energy Directive

The Industry, Research and Energy Committee will adopt its positions on two draft bills that are part of the “Fit for 55” package to fight climate change. MEPs will vote on new EU targets to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and increase energy efficiency. The measures would also support the EU’s energy sovereignty and security in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Following the vote, Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), rapporteur, holds a press conference on the revision of the renewable energy directive.

Press conference by Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, on the revision of the renewable energy directive

MEPs quiz the Commission on the EU’s energy autonomy and the strategic importance of renewables, energy interconnections and efficiency. Question Time to Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy.

Europe’s Energy Autonomy: the strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency - Question Time to Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy (Part 3/3)

Europe’s Energy Autonomy: the strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency - Question Time to Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy (Part 2/3)

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