ESTIF Press releases
Date: Tuesday 14. of February 2006
Brussels, 14 February. With an overwhelming majority the European Parliament today called for a European Directive to Promote Renewable Heating and Cooling. The Parliamentarians agreed on an Initiative Report drafted by German MEP Mechtild Rothe, which calls the European Commission to come forward with a legislative proposal. In a swift reaction to the clear statement of the Parliament, EU Energy Commissioner Piebalgs announced that the Commission would propose such a directive already in 2006.
Date: Thursday 26. of January 2006
Brussels, 26 January – This morning, the ITRE (Committee on Industry, Research and Energy) of the European Parliament adopted the Initiative Report on Renewable Heating and Cooling presented by MEP Mechtild Rothe. The report calls the European Commission to present a Directive Proposal for the promotion of renewable heating and cooling, in order to substantially contribute to "securing European energy supplies and to significantly reduce Europe's dependence on oil and gas in particular". The...
Date: Wednesday 07. of December 2005
Brussels, 7 December 2005. Today the European Commission announced to "work towards a proposal for Community legislation in 2006 to encourage the use of renewable energy, including biomass, for heating and cooling". The announcement followed a two year campaign, started by the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF), which calls for strong and coherent policy measures to support renewable heating and cooling. ESTIF immediately welcomed the move by the Commission and offered...
Date: Wednesday 23. of November 2005
German Member of the European Parliament Mechtild Rothe publishes her report on the promotion of heating and cooling from renewable energies.
Date: Monday 14. of November 2005
On Friday, 10 November 2005, the House of Commons took an important step to promote microgeneration and renewable heating technologies when it gave a Second Reading to the "Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill" promoted by Mark Lazarowicz MP.
Date: Wednesday 02. of November 2005
Wagner & Co Solartechnik as well as Markus Elsässer of Solar Promotion are among the winners of the DGS-Solarpreis 2005 of the German Chapter of the International Solar Energy Society
Date: Thursday 20. of October 2005
Based on an enquiry of their members, the French solar association ENERPLAN expects a newly installed capacity of 70.000 kWth this year (collector area of 100.000m2). This would correspond to a doubling of the market in just one year.
Date: Thursday 08. of September 2005
According to the written opinion of the responsible officers in the European Commission the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive 2002/96/EC does NOT apply to solar thermal systems. This opinion was obtained by ESTIF on behalf of the Greek Solar industry Association. However, please note that the opinions of the Commission services are not legally binding. The binding interpretation of Community law is an exclusive competence of the European Court of Justice.
Date: Monday 18. of July 2005
Brussels, 18 July 2005. The European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) and its national and regional member associations (see list below) urge EU policy makers to make bolder steps to promote renewable energy sources in the heating and cooling sector. An EU directive should be enacted soon to speed-up the penetration of renewables in the heating sector.
Date: Monday 04. of July 2005
The Hellenic Organization for Standardization (ELOT) has become the fourth certifcation body empowered by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) to issue the Solar Keymark.
Date: Thursday 12. of June 2008
Brussels/Munich 12 June 2008. Solar thermal encountered mixed developments in Europe in 2007. The biggest national market, Germany, declined while many other countries enjoyed double-digit growth rates. Sales in 2008 have started strong and the industry looks optimistically into the future. At Intersolar 2008, the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation publishes their latest market statistics for Europe.
Date: Thursday 12. of June 2008
Brussels/Munich 12 June 2008. More and more EU Member States, regions and municipalities are phasing out fossil fuel based heating. New and refurbished buildings are increasingly required to cover a share of their heat demand with renewable energies, such as solar thermal. The European Commission now wants to make this a Europe-wide requirement.
Date: Wednesday 28. of May 2008
The European Parliament's Rapporteur on the Renewables Directive, Claude Turmes, has published his draft report, last week. He suggests a series of changes to the original proposal tabled by the European Commission on 23 January 2008. Most of Mr Turmes' proposals strengthen the original text of the Commission and clarify issues where the proposal was ambiguous.
Date: Thursday 15. of May 2008
Brussels, 15/05/2008. The kick off of the first European Solar Days will be celebrated on Friday 16 May with special events in Brussels and throughout Europe.
Date: Wednesday 23. of January 2008
Brussels, 23/01/2008: The solar thermal sector welcomes the renewables Directive proposal published by the European Commission, today. For the first time, renewable heating and cooling will be fully integrated into EU legislation. ESTIF welcomes particularly the obligation for new and refurbished buildings, from which solar thermal will benefit. Member States are called to improve the framework for solar thermal now, without waiting for the adoption of the Directive.
