As the European continent struggled through the recent seasonal electricity price crisis, solar power began to play a leading role. In recent weeks, due to the global economic recovery and supply chain issues that have pushed up natural gas prices, households and similar industries have been affected by the challenge of electricity costs. Consumers at all levels are looking for alternative energy sources.
Before the October European summit (the meeting of European leaders discussing electricity prices), energy-intensive industries called on leaders to implement policies and measures to support their access to renewable energy. Eight energy-intensive industry associations representing the paper, aluminum, and chemical industries, together with the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (SolarPower Europe) and the European Wind Power Exhibition (Wind Europe), voiced together, emphasizing the urgent need for decision-makers to support low-cost, high-efficiency, and reliable Transition to renewable energy.
At the same time, our research at the household level shows that solar energy is effective in protecting households from energy price shocks. During this crisis, households in Europe (Poland, Spain, Germany and Belgium) that have installed solar energy saved an average of 60% of their monthly electricity bills.
As Dombrovskis, Vice President of the European Commission, said, this energy cost emergency “will only strengthen plans to get rid of fossil fuels.” In a speech to the members of the European Parliament, Vice-Chairman Timmermans made it clearer that if “we implemented the green agreement five years earlier, we would not fall into this situation, because then we would reduce the need for fossil fuels. Dependence on fuel and natural gas.”
Green Transition
The European Commission has recognized the need to accelerate the green transition, and this is reflected in the’toolbox’ of EU member states to respond to the crisis. The guide reiterated existing recommendations on accelerating the licensing of new renewable energy projects and made recommendations to support industries in obtaining renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs). Corporate PPA is the key to reducing industrial carbon emissions, while also providing companies with long-term stable energy costs and protecting them from the price fluctuations we are seeing now.
The European Commission’s recommendation on PPA came at the right time-just one day before the RE-Source meeting in 2021. On October 14-15, 700 experts gathered in Amsterdam to participate in the 2021 RE-Source conference. This two-day annual meeting will connect corporate buyers and renewable energy suppliers to help the company’s renewable energy PPA.
With the recent European Commission’s support for renewable energy, solar energy is expected to stand out. In the 2022 work plan just announced by the European Commission, solar energy is the only designated energy technology. We must take advantage of this opportunity to use existing clear solutions to meet the challenges that still face and realize the huge potential of solar energy. For example, rooftop solar energy is expected to become a standard feature in new or refurbished industrial and commercial venues. More broadly, we need to deal with the lengthy and cumbersome licensing process, which will slow down the installation speed of solar power plants.
Price Increased
Although countries still rely on fossil fuels, rising energy prices are an inevitable trend in the future. Last year, six EU member states, including Spain, called for the construction of a 100% renewable energy power system. In order to further achieve this goal, the government must initiate special tenders to determine the correct price signals for solar and energy storage projects, while implementing ambitious innovation policies to deploy the required technologies in the grid.
European leaders will meet again in December to discuss energy prices, and the European Commission will announce its latest addition to the “Fit for 55” package of climate legislation proposals within the same week. In the coming weeks and even months, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association and our partners will work with decision makers to ensure that any legislative actions reflect that solar energy is protecting households and businesses from rising prices while reducing carbon emissions. The role of the Earth’s influence.
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