Why the European Parliament got the EPBD right

Yesterday, a major milestone for accelerating the decarbonisation of buildings has been reached by the European Parliament, who adopted its final position on the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

GD4S is pleased with the positive outcome and welcomes the European Parliament’s approach, which
creates a solid framework for ensuring a progressive transition away from fossil fuel-based heating
systems, while leaving no consumers without a reliable and affordable heating solution.

With this vote, Members of the European Parliament have acknowledged that all types of renewable energies, including renewable gases such as biomethane & hydrogen, are needed to accelerate the decarbonisation of the hard-to-abate building sector. Raúl Suárez, President of GD4S

As decarbonisation of heating cannot solely be achieved with electrification and district heating, MEPs
opened the way for additional complementary solutions, including hybrid heat pumps and boilers
running on renewable gases. This will ensure that no citizen is left without a reliable and affordable
heating option.

Because these technologies are fully compatible and ready to switch to renewable gases, they have a
clear role to play in progressively phasing out fossil fuels and achieving the EU’s climate objectives,
a role that the European Parliament has acknowledged in today’s vote.

REPowerEU set an objective of 35 billion cubic meters of biomethane by 2030, which represents over
40% of today’s household gas consumption. Keeping the possibility to install hybrid heat pumps &
boilers certified to run on renewable gases is, therefore, a coherent approach that facilitates the
penetration of renewable gases in buildings, where and when they are most beneficial. This approach
is best suited to achieve a rapid and cost-effective decarbonisation of the building sector.

However, GD4S regrets that the unnecessary requirement for renewable energies to be delivered
exclusively through power purchase agreements (PPAs) remains in the text, as such a restriction risks
jeopardising Europe’s ability to meet its ambitious deadlines for zero-emission buildings.
GD4S hopes that such issue will be tackled during the trilogues discussions between the European
Parliament, the EU Council, and the European Commission