Solar obligations

Solar obligations are regulations requiring a minimum share of the heating demand be covered by solar energy. They usually apply to new buildings, those undergoing major renovation and sometimes in the case of replacement of the heating system.

A decade ago, the idea of making the use of solar or renewable energy compulsory sounded radical and politically unfeasible in most parts of the world. Currently, solar obligations have been adopted or are being discussed in a number of countries, regions and municipalities in Europe and beyond.

In June, 2007, while discussing the contents of the future EU Directive on Renewable Energies, the ITRE Committee of the European Parliament called on the Commission to “speed up the widespread adoption in all Member States of best practice regulations making it compulsory, at least where existing buildings are substantially renovated and new buildings are built, for a minimum proportion of the heating requirement to be met from renewable sources, as it already is in a growing number of regions and municipalities”.

Solar obligations are probably the single most powerful instrument for promoting the use of renewables in new buildings. Empirical experience shows their manifold benefits. However, solar obligations fundamentally change the way how the solar thermal market grows. Obliged customers will often search for the cheapest possible solution. Therefore, it is necessary that solar obligation include appropriate quality assurance measures.

A comprehensive study on solar regulations

Here you can download the main study best practice regulations for solar thermal (61 pages, last update August 2007, 868 KB).

This study includes following sections:

Reduction of administrative barriers

• Solar obligations
  - A short history of solar obligations
  - Benefits and costs
  - The need for quality assurance measures
  - Structure for a solar obligation and guidelines
  - Flanking measures
• Annexes
  - 27 years of solar obligation in Israel
  - Solar obligations in Spain
  - The debate on solar obligations in Germany
  - Solar obligations in Italy
  - Solar obligations in Ireland
  - Technical specifications for solar obligations

Solar regulations in different countries and regions

Spain (national level)

The new Spanish Technical Buildings Code (CTE) was adopted in March 2006, and its solar thrmal section entered in force on the 29 September 2006.

The CTE goes far beyond the minimal level of implementation of the EC Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings and includes an obligation to cover 30-70% of the Domestic Hot Water (DHW) demand with solar thermal energy, to be applied in all new buildings and those undergoing major renovation and/or changes of use.

It must be noted that, like all solar regulations, the Spanish CTE applies at the time of authorisation of building construction. Therefore, there is a natural delay of one or two years before the solar systems actually start being operative. Therefore, the direct impact of the CTE on the Spanish market in 2007 is low to negligible. Only in 2008 and 2009 we will see its full impact on the solar market.

For more information on the new Spanish building code (CTE):

• Spain approves national solar thermal obligation (ESTIF news of 21/03/2006)
• Spanish text of the CTE and its Annexes, including detailed parameters concerning the solar thermal obligation
• English text of the CTE sections most relevant to solar thermal

An extensive analysis of the solar obligation in the CTE can be found in the main study best practice regulations for solar thermal mentioned above.

Barcelona: the pioneer of solar regulation in Europe

The City of Barcelona has been the pioneer for Solar Regulations in Europe. The first Solar Ordinance entered in force in 2000 and required that a certain share of the domestic hot water demand is covered by solar thermal, in new buildings and those undergoing major renovation.

The implementation led to a dramatic increase in the use of solar thermal, thereby also stimulating the voluntary market in non-obliged buildings. The regulation enjoyed wide support in the public opinion and decision makers. Therefore, the revision approved in 2006 increased the number of obliged buildings and improved the procedures, architectural integration as well as quality requirements.

As a part of the Solar Thermal Action Plan, developed within the K4RES-H project coordinated by ESTIF, the Barcelona Energy Agency published an analysis of the lessons learned during the implementations of the barcelona solar regulation:

• Short flyer in English, Spanish, Catalan
• In-depth study of 50 pages in Spanish, in Catalan

An extensive summary in English of the in-depth study can be found in the Annex 2 of the main study best practice regulations for solar thermal mentioned above.

Madrid and other municipal solar regulations in Spain

Inspired by the positive experience of Barcelona, dozens of municipalities under administration of different political colours approved solar obligations all over Spain. 

The Spanish national Energy Agency IDAE actively promoted this trend by providing technical and legal advice to the interested municipalities. As a part of the Solar Thermal Action Plan, developed within the K4RES-H project coordinated by ESTIF, IDAE published a study of the experience drawn from the implementation following of the Soalr regulation in Madrid:

• Short flyer in English, Spanish
• In-depth study of 50 pages in English, Spanish

Israel

Israel is the country with the oldest solar obligation, in force since 1980. The law's success has made it largely superfluous: today, more than 90% of Israel's solar thermal market are in the voluntary segment, like installation on existing buildings, or systems bigger than required by law. Economies of scale, widespread awareness and training led to cost reductions. Typical payback times are around three of four years. People consider solar thermal systems an obvious component of buildings.

For more information on Israel, see Annex 1 of the main study best practice regulations for solar thermal mentioned above.

Germany: solar obligation as element of urban planning in the town of Vellmar

The City of Vellmar set the installation of solar thermal system as a preliminary condition for the authorisation to construct in a new development area.  Meanwhile a large number of houses have been built there.

As a part of the Solar Thermal Action Plan, developed within the K4RES-H project coordinated by ESTIF, the Energy Agency of the region of Kassel, Energie2000 studied the implementation of this solar regulation. Following materials (in German only) are available:

• Short flyer
• In-depth report and analysis with legal background
• Report on a survey conducted on the citizens involved
• Power Point presentation

The German Federal government, as well as the government of the State of Baden-Württemberg are currently discussing the introduction of renewable heat obligations.

Italy

Following the example of the town of Carugate, local solar obligations are in force in a number of small municipalities around Milan. A municipal obligation is in advanced state of discussion in the City of Rome.

At national level, a renewable heat obligation is included in the latest version (29.12.2006) of the law implementing the European Directive on the energy performance of buildings. It prescribes that at least 50% of the annual domestic hot water demand will have to be covered by renewable energy sources, whereas in the city centres with historical value this share is reduced to 20%.  The obligation will apply to new buildings, major renovations and in case of replacement of the heating system.

However, the provisions about the renewable heat obligation are not yet applicable, because the implementing decrees (“decreti attuativi”) have not yet been adopted.

For the national renewable heat obligation to have a real effect, it is necessary that the implementing decrees are adopted and that they contain clear provisions effectively ensuring a high rate of compliance. Otherwise, there is the danger to replicate the experience of the law 10 of 1991, that was very demanding on paper but to a large extent was not observed in practice.

For more information on Italy, see Annex 4 of the main study best practice regulations for solar thermal mentioned above.

Ireland

Starting at the end of 2005, a number of Irish local authorities introduced building energy standards as part of planning requirements in their jurisdiction. These building energy standards require a substantial increase in the energy performance of new buildings (between 40% and 60% reduction in energy usage) as well as a mandatory contribution of renewable energy to their thermal energy requirement.

For a two page  summary, please see Annex 5 of the main study best practice regulations for solar thermal mentioned above.

A 19 pages case study on the Irish solar regulations can be downloaded here.

Portugal

And neighbouring Portugal quickly followed the Spanish example with their own regulation. The new Portuguese buildings code includes an obligation to install solar thermal systems or some other form of renewable energy providing a similar energy saving. The obligation only covers certain buildings. Amongst other restrictions, it applies to buildings with a South-East to South-West oriented roof surfaces. The solar system should have a minimum dimension of 1m2 per person assumed occupancy in the building.

For more information on the new Portuguese building code:

• Portuguese text of the buildings code