A quarter of Europe’s electricity needs could be covered by rooftop solar energy. This may be a suitable solution for Poland, which is still the largest consumer of coal in the EU. Initiatives to implement such projects already exist in the country.
Many EU countries can produce levelized solar electricity at a lower cost than retail electricity prices by tapping into rooftops of the already existing real estate, making it a possible solution to achieve climate neutrality in coal-heavy regions such as Silesia. According to the paper, EU rooftop solar panel systems could produce approximately 680TWh of electricity annually, which is equivalent to 24.4% of the current consumption.
Triple PV capacities to 1.5 GW
As of 2019, only 10.9% of Poland’s energy is produced using renewables while a staggering 80% comes from coal, the highest percentage in the European Union. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has recently announced that the country is going to triple its photovoltaic capacities to 1.5 gigawatts.
Rafał Rzeszotarski, general manager of Poland-based Sun Investment Group (SIG), believes rooftop solar energy can help ease the transition to clean energy. “We are certain that implementing an otherwise virtually unused resource, the roof space of their real estate, to produce electricity can help companies to contribute to the reduction of environmental impact and save money in the long run,’’ says Rafał Rzeszotarski, Poland-based Sun Investment Group’s general manager.
Corporate Power Purchase Agreements
Earlier this fall, SIG, one of the largest Central and Eastern European investors in solar power, has entered the market for the individual Corporate Power Purchasing Agreements (CPPAs), meaning that the corporate clients will be able to incorporate solar power into their everyday electricity consumption without the hassle of installing the panels themselves.
The company’s model is rather simple: SIG covers the installation and maintenance throughout all solar power system’s operation stages while the client provides the real estate and agrees to purchase all of the generated energy for 25 years at a discounted rate that is below market value.
Virtual solar power plants
Another viable solution for switching to clean electricity are remote power plants. Although not available for the public yet, pioneering platforms will allow any household to purchase a virtual solar power plant online, making renewable energy accessible for everyone.
European Union’s vision is to transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050, meaning that the bloc’s net greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) should fall to zero by then. (HCN)
