European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen repeated her call to "make Europe's future electric", as part of the annual State of the European Union address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg today.
The speech acknowledged key issues including the faster deployment of energy storage, the urgent need for the grids package and speedier permitting.
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, said: "An electric future will deliver on many of Europe's strategic priorities. Cutting our dependency on fossil fuels will boost our security, make our businesses more competitive, and ease the burden of energy costs on citizens. Solar has already saved Europe 34.3 billion since the Iran War began. It can do so much more.
"That electric future will need the EU's 200 GW energy storage objective to be delivered - so we can make the most of our existing renewable capacity and create the networks to support homegrown renewables at the pace and scale required. Urgency will be vital, starting with ensuring Member States effectively implement the agreed rules. A binding renewables target for 2040 would send a unifying signal of intent to catalyse these efforts and ensure an electric future is based on Europe's renewables success story."
"The President is also right to call for a mature EU industrial policy. Let's make that future right here in Europe. We call on decision-makers to swiftly adopt an Industrial Accelerator Act with genuine and strict Made in Europe criteria."
Contact
John Parnell
Senior Communications Advisor
j.parnell@solarpowereurope.org
