Property Owners call on EU Member States to protect small-scale renewable installations

UIPI, the International Union of Property Owners, representing more than 5 million private property owners in the EU, has joined the Small is Beautiful campaign to support small-scale renewable and cogeneration installations in Europe. These installations are currently under threat in the Clean Energy Package negotiations, as Member States move to erode incentives, such as priority dispatch for the smallest renewables installations.     

Emmanuelle Causse, Director of European Affairs said “If we want the motto power to the people to become a reality in the energy transition, we have to minimise risks, costs and red tape for on-site small-scale renewable individual producers. European homeowners, co-owners and landlords are increasingly aware and eager to invest in cleaner and affordable electricity generation technologies, but they already face significant administrative and financial obstacles. Let’s not make things more difficult for them! The removal of priority dispatch and placing balancing responsibilities on small scale producers are additional disproportionate requirements that will discourage property owners from investing in clean energy technologies. This would be a huge setback for the European energy transition.”

Aurélie Beauvais, Policy Director of SolarPower Europe commented “Property owners across Europe support small-scale renewable installations because they are key to sustainable, low-carbon buildings. Homeowners want to live in an environmentally friendly way and we should empower them to do so, while not penalising those who wish to invest in a clean future.”

“UIPI joining our campaign shows the widespread and growing support for our cause, it is now up to Member States to make the responsible decision and protect small-scale installations in Europe, by maintaining priority dispatch for renewables ” added James Watson, CEO of SolarPower Europe.    

About Small is Beautiful

Small is Beautiful is a campaign to support small-scale renewable installations and cogeneration facilities as well as renewable demonstration projects in the EU. The aim of the campaign is to safeguard regulatory incentives such as priority dispatch, for small-scale installations and demonstration projects, currently under threat in the Clean Energy Package negotiations. This campaign is led by 15 trade associations including SolarPower Europe, AEBIOM, AIE, COGEN EUROPE, EBA (European Biogas Association), EGEC Geothermal, Energy Cities,  EPHA (European Heat Pump Association), EREF (European Renewable Energies Federation), EUREC, Euroheat & Power, OceanEnergy Europe, REScoop.eu, UIPI (International Union of Property Owners), SolarHeat Europe and WindEurope.

About UIPI  

The International Union of Property Owners is a pan-European non-profit association comprising of 29 organisations from 28 countries, jointly representing more than 5 million private property owners of some 20 to 25 million dwellings all over Europe. The property owners represented by UIPI range from individual home owners, private landlords with a single bedroom flat or multiple-occupancy houses, to landlords with large property portfolios in the private-rented and commercial sectors.

About SolarPower Europe

SolarPower Europe is a member-led association representing organisations active along the whole value chain. Our aim is to shape the regulatory environment and enhance business opportunities for solar power in Europe.

For more information Kristina Thoring – Senior Political Communications Advisor

T: +32 2 709 55 26 Email: k.thoring@solarpowereurope.org