The order passed! It will be mandatory for buildings to install photovoltaics from 2026

The directive was passed by the European Parliament with 370 votes to 199, with 46 abstentions. The next step will be formal approval by the Council of Ministers before it becomes a formal law.
This means that photovoltaics must be integrated into building works and public institutions must install photovoltaics on their buildings, gradually taking effect from 2026.
All new buildings should be zero-emission by 2030 and new buildings occupied or owned by the public sector should be zero-emission by 2028. When calculating emissions, Member States will take into account the life cycle global warming potential of buildings, including the production and disposal of construction products used in construction. For residential buildings, member states must take measures to ensure that average primary energy use is reduced by at least 16% by 2030 and by at least 20% to 22% by 2035.
Under the new directive, member states must renovate 16% of the worst-performing non-residential buildings by 2030 and 26% of the worst-performing non-residential buildings by 2033 through minimum energy performance requirements.
If technically and economically suitable, member states will have to gradually install solar installations in all new residential buildings by 2030, depending on the size of public and non-residential buildings.
Progressive EU solar standards will require:
- New commercial and public buildings by 2026,
- Commercial and public buildings undergoing relevant renovations by 2027,
- New homes built by 2029,
- By 2030, existing public buildings.
Agricultural and historic buildings can be excluded, while EU member states can decide to exclude buildings of special architectural or historical interest, temporary buildings, and churches and places of worship.
Jan Osenberg, senior policy advisor at SolarPower Europe, said: “Today, the European Parliament has reached a huge milestone in accelerating the deployment of renewable energy by adopting the EU Solar Standard. From 2026, the EU Solar Standard will require Solar roofs are installed on a large proportion of the building stock. EU solar standards put power into the hands of citizens and will embed the energy transition in where we sleep, work and live."
He explained: "As the grid catches up with the energy transition, installing energy generation where we use it will also help the grid, keeping power local and empowering citizens with the information and technology to use electricity smartly. They can see By when power generation will increase, and power consumption can be adjusted accordingly.”
The "European Photovoltaic Market Outlook 2023-2027" released by the European Photovoltaic Association (SPE) shows that the EU will add 55.9 GW of new photovoltaic installed capacity in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 40%, and a total of 14 countries will have new installed capacity of 1 GW or more. , 4 more countries than in 2022.
The European Solar Power Report, published late last year, also forecast 73.8 GW of installed capacity in 2025, followed by 84.2 GW in 2026 and 93.1 GW in 2027.