TL: One Million Solar Homes for Europe - SO: Corin Millais, Greenpeace International (GP) DT: May, 1997 One million solar homes in Europe - a proposal by Greenpeace Close to US $15 billion of taxpayers money has been used every year since 1990 to prop up the fossil fuel and nuclear industries in subsidies from the EU and western European governments . Greenpeace is campaigning for these subsidies to be removed and used to implement renewables energy technologies and efficiency. As world Governments prepare their positions in the lead up to the major Climate Change meeting in Japan, in December, practical action to mitigate climate change is required. Greenpeace proposes that the EU initiates a one million solar homes programmes to be completed by the year 2010. This would create a visible signal of intent and public profile for Europe on climate change solutions which can hasten a wider transition towards renewables and energy efficiency and away from polluting energy. Europe needs to stop funding the problem and start funding the solution. Such a target for solar power in Europe is feasible, and was outlined last year in a report to the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy. This report proposed a 10-year market transition programme, requiring 480 million ECU ($US630 million) of public funds, to install 500 Megawatts of solar photovoltaics in Europe by 2005. This would help kick start a self-sustaining market needing no government assistance which would deliver 2,000 Megawatts by 2010. 2,000 Megawatts is equivalent to one million homes, based on an average of 2 kilowatts of solar energy per home - enough to generate half the annual power requirements of an average home in northern Europe. If the EU dedicated the 480 million ECU support solely to domestic homes, installing one million solar homes throughout Europe would be achieved. Public funding support for the project is initially set at 49 per cent of the overall cost, dropping to zero over a 10-year period. Jobs - The report states that the 2000MW target would create at least 58,000 jobs and save 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. Fossil to solar - Diverting just 15 months of the subsidies that the EU spends on supporting fossil fuel and nuclear power would pay for the up-front costs of the million solar homes project. Europe lagging in the solar world Without a concerted programme, Europe is in danger of being left behind in the global solar race. For example: - In the USA, the "President's Million Roofs Programme" is already proceeding in consultation with the solar industry and the Department of Energy. It aims to install one million domestic and commercial solar buildings by 2007. This would push total amounts of installed photovoltaics in the US to 3,000 Megawatts - or the equivalent of three large coal-fired power stations. Besides generating 20,000 new jobs in high technology areas and helping to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the US project will see the construction of new automated solar manufacturing plants in 20 states. - Japan is proposing to install 4,600 megawatts of solar photovoltaics by 2010, and plans to install 10,000 solar homes in 1997, as part of its 70,000 solar homes programme. The global solar market The global photovoltaic industry is already growing at a rate of 15 per cent per year, and 1997 is predicted to reach record growth rate of 50%. A consistent annual growth rate of 20 per cent in European solar photovoltaic installations which would generate 2,000 Megawatts by 2010. According to the Commission report, if the growth rate went to 35 per cent per year, this would create a total photovoltaic capacity of 8,700 Megawatts by 2010,the equivalent of 4.3 million homes would be feasible; this would create at least 294,000 jobs within Europe. Whilst global production of solar photovoltaic modules has more than doubled in seven years, in 1996 European production declined (-6.5 per cent) as US (+14.7 per cent) and Japanese (+29.3 per cent) markets increased. Europe's solar potential The potential for photovoltaics in Europe is vast, taking in commercial and domestic buildings. In 1990, the area of rooftops on houses, industrial buildings and offices which could be used to produce grid-connected solar electricity was 3,596 square kilometres. This huge solar potential amounts to installing an average of only 9.5 square metres of solar panels per person in Europe. This would produce 450,000 Megawatts of electricity generating capacity, providing 16.3 per cent of Europe's electricity needs in 1990 (360 million Megawatt hours/annum, about 1,000 kilowatt hours/annum per person). In 2010, the total potential is 618,000 Megawatts, (500 million Megawatt hours/annum). Yet the cumulative total of photovoltaics installed in Europe in 1994 was approximately 70 Megawatts. -May 20 1996. Greenpeace International