Recovery and Resilience: Solar has key role to play in facilitating green and digital transition

As the EU summit on budget and COVID-19 recovery funds kicks off,  SolarPower Europe strongly supports President of the European Council Charles Michel’s proposal for the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) to spearhead an “effective contribution to the green and digital transition”.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on all European industries, solar included, impacting supply, demand, and logistics. The European Commission’s ‘Next Generation EU’ is a unique opportunity to leverage the €60 billion of annual investments needed to fully tap into the EU’s solar potential. Any EU recovery plan must facilitate access to finance for solar PV projects in Europe – from manufacturing, to innovation, to installation. Better access to finance will enable the construction of solar farms, the massive installation of solar on rooftops across the EU, and importantly will support the scaling-up of local solar manufacturing projects. On top of contributing to the success of the European Green Deal, supporting solar will create new jobs, stimulate sustainable growth, and increase both the EU’s industrial competitiveness and energy autonomy.

Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, said: “It is essential that the Recovery and Resilience Facility is aligned with the objectives and values of the European Green Deal and Paris Agreement. We now have the opportunity to accelerate the EU’s energy transition and to ensure a green and just recovery. Choosing solar – through facilitating access to finance – will ensure vast economic, environmental, and social benefits for all Europeans. As the lowest-cost, most versatile and job-intensive energy technology, solar is uniquely positioned to lead the sustainable energy transition in Europe and combat climate change.”