European Solar Thermal Industry Federation
PRESS RELEASE
Legislation could accelerate adoption of solar thermal all over
Europe
European Parliament calls for a
Renewable Heating and Cooling
Directive
Brussels, 14 February 2006. With an overwhelming majority
the European Parliament today called for a European
Directive to Promote Renewable Heating and Cooling. The
Parliamentarians agreed on an Initiative Report drafted by
German MEP Mechtild Rothe, which calls the European
Commission to come forward with a legislative proposal. In
a swift reaction to the clear statement of the Parliament, EU
Energy Commissioner Piebalgs already announced that the
Commission would propose such a directive before the
end of 2006.
The European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF)
complimented the Members of the European Parliament on their
important step:" This is truly a milestone for solar thermal in Europe",
said ESTIF's European Policy Director Raffaele Piria. "Nearly half of
Europe's energy consumption is due to demand for heating and
cooling. Yet there is no European legislation in place to directly
promote heat and cold production from renewable energy sources,
such as solar thermal. The Initiative Report sends a clear message to
the European Commission as well as to national governments to get
going on renewable heating and cooling.".
The Initiative Report calls for a Directive that sets effective targets for
the use of renewable energies for heating and cooling. While the
report does not suggest a harmonisation of support schemes at EU
level, it proposes to agree on general principles for the support
schemes to be adopted and implemented by the Member States and
on a menu of suggested instruments, like tax breaks, financial
incentives or regulatory measures. It also proposes measures to
reduce the administrative barriers to the use of renewable heating
and cooling.
Legislation to pro-
mote renewables
also in heating and
cooling still missing
Parliament’s report
gives concrete rec-
ommendations
