Hydrogen Europe and seven other signatories have released a joint statement calling for the definition of zero-emission buildings to include all renewable energy sources. Whether produced on-site, nearby, stored on site or distributed via grid, all renewable energy options should be considered equally applicable as a means of decarbonising European building stock.

Depending on national, regional, local and individual circumstances, the right solution for achieving zero-emission buildings can vary significantly. Opening up all options aligns with the principles enshrined in Article 15a of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED), which allows national renewable energy targets for buildings to be achieved with ‘renewable energy produced on-site or nearby as well as renewable energy taken from the grid’.

The signatories of the letter argue that it is, therefore, crucial to ensure coherence within the Fit for 55 package and to grant Member States the necessary flexibility to meet their targets and define their own decarbonisation pathways.

As seen in the European Parliament (EP) text in Annex III of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), the means by which one can decarbonise building stock is restricted exclusively to renewable energy derived from power purchase agreements (PPAs). This contradicts Article 2.2 of the EP text and significantly limits the availability of solutions for decarbonising buildings.

The next Trilogue meeting on EPBD will take place on 12 October and will discuss some of the most controversial articles of the Directive. The signatories of the statement urge policy makers to revise Article 2.2 and Annex III to fully recognise a role for renewable energy (both electrons and molecules) supplied via grid.

Click here to read the joint statement