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The advocacy and lobbying activities of the last year begin to bear fruit. Ambitious tools which could stimulate the demand for window replacement and improve the energy performance of buildings are close to the end of their legislative journey. Of course, there is room for improvements, but the texts provisionally agreed confirm that EU institutions acknowledge building renovation as one of the main instruments to improve the resilience of the EU’s energy system and meet its climate goals.
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As stated in the Energy Efficiency Directive, the 27 member states will have to reduce final energy consumption at EU level by 11.7% in 2030. They will benefit from some flexibilities, but they will have to act on buildings, even more so that the target will become binding for the energy consumed by end-users. In parallel, the European Parliament voted its position on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. This ambitious text could bring new opportunities to the flat glass sector but it is subject to changes and is that risks being watered down by the Council. Glass for Europe stays vigilant and is ready to coordinate with its national partners to call for an enabling policy framework for the uptake of high-performance glazing.
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Flat glass products are unique, and more efforts will be put in 2023 to better communicate their added value. This is why we have just included a new section dedicated to flat glass products in our website and released an informative paper about the importance of glazing in delivering summer comfort. More communication and advocacy tools are in the pipeline, so keep on following us to stay up to date and make good use of this documentation.
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Secretary General, Glass for Europe
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Special focus
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Flat glass industry competitiveness
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Glass for Europe reacts to the Green Deal Industrial Plan
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The Green Deal Industrial Plan, published yesterday by the European Commission, aims at enhancing the competitiveness of Europe's net-zero industry and supporting the transition to climate neutrality. Glass for Europe welcomes the objectives set by the Commission and is ready to keep on producing the key technologies and products the European Union needs for its transition to a climate neutral …
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The net-zero industry act needs to be beefed up rapidly
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17 March 2023: During the last week, the European Commission unveiled a series of proposals for regulation and initiatives1 aiming at reducing the instability in energy prices, boosting the competitiveness of European-based industries and accelerating Europe’s transition toward a low-carbon economy. Despite the laudable objectives and numbers …
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Background
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NET-ZERO INDUSTRY ACT
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On 16 March, the European Commission unveiled its ‘net-zero industry act’ which takes the form of a proposal for a regulation for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology products manufacturing ecosystem. The text serves as an umbrella industrial policy for Europe and as the basis for the reforms and legislative proposals below.
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TEMPORARY STATE AID AND TRANSITION FRAMEWORK (TSTF)
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On 9 March, the European Commission published a revised Temporary Crisis Framework for State aid and extend it to the transition to climate neutrality. While the existing aid lines are maintained and slightly amended, new ones are added to boost investment in net-zero technology manufacturing facilities, alongside the objective of the net-zero industry act. One novelty is the possibility for Member States to provide higher aid in case of risk of relocation of investment outside Europe, yet under very strict conditions.
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GLOBAL BLOCK EXEMPTION REGULATION (GBER)
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On 9 March, the European Commission revised the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) which automatically allows certain State aid without the need for the European Commission's approval. This revision aims to accelerate the transition to climate neutrality. The authorised lines concern decarbonisation projects, energy efficiency, and aid measures set up by Member States to regulate process such as electricity and gas. The extension is valid until end 2026.
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ELECTRICITY MARKET DESIGN REFORM
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On 14 March, the European Commission tabled its proposal for a reform of the electricity market design. It takes the form of amendments to two existing regulations: regulation on electricity market design rules and the regulation on the wholesale energy market integrity and transparency. The overall reform pursues two objectives: to ensure more affordable electricity and to provide a further push for renewables as ways to speed up transition to climate neutrality and to preserve Europe’s competitiveness.
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CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS ACT
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On 15 March, the European Commission released a proposal for Critical Raw Material Act, under the form of a regulation. This aims at avoiding that Europe falls short of supply of raw materials that are either critical or strategic. The EU should achieve this by mitigating risks in the supply chain, increasing the EU’s own value-chain and reducing the environmental footprint of EU’s critical raw material consumption. Critical raw materials are selected considering the material’s economic importance and its related supply risk.
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Advanced glazing system to increase vehicles’ sustainability
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Automotive glass can contribute to reducing the environmental impact of vehicles. High-performance glazing technology can lower mobile air-conditioning energy loads, and subsequently cut CO2 emissions of Combustion Engine Vehicles or increase the range of Electric Vehicles. In the paper “Advanced glazing systems to curb air-conditioning energy consumption”, released today, Glass for Europe outlines the impact of advanced glazing products on …
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Glass for Europe on the review of the Food Contact Regulation
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In its answer to the public consultation on the review of the Food Contact Materials Regulation, Glass for Europe highlighted the need to consider the specificities of soda-lime silicate flat glass products. The utilisation of flat glass for food applications is very rare. “More than 99% of flat glass production is used for windows, facades, automotive glass and solar energy …
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The European Parliament adopts its position on the EPBD
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Today, the European Parliament adopted its position on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) with 343 votes in favour, 216 against and 78 abstentions. “Huge step forward for lower energy bills, reducing energy poverty, and tackling 36% of EU emissions.” Tweeted C. Cuffe, MEP rapporteur on the EPBD. Glass for Europe welcomes the adopted text which strikes …
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Glazing technologies to deliver heatwave-proof buildings
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In the last years, Europeans have witnessed increasingly acute and frequent heat waves and temperatures, especially in summer, are expected to climb further in the decades to come. European Buildings need to adapt to the new climate conditions to ensure comfort and wellbeing in both winter and summer time. In the informative paper "Glazing contribution to summer comfort" released today, Glass for Europe …
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MEP Christian Doleschal visits flat glass installation in Germany
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On March 24, Glass for Europe introduced MEP Christian Doleschal, rapporteur on the revision of the Construction Products Regulation, to the world of flat glass during a visit to the NSG plant in Weiherhammer (Germany). A float plant is the perfect setting to understand the flat glass sector's realities and the link between …
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Glass for Europe joins the European Solar PV Industry Alliance
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Glass for Europe is officially a member of the European Solar PV Industry Alliance, an initiative launched in December 2022 by the European Commission. The Alliance gathers key players in the value chain of the solar energy industry and aims at scaling up the production of solar PV panels and value chain components in Europe. Glass is an essential component …
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Glass for Europe's workshop on "Lifecycle carbon calculation tool"
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On 7 February, more than 40 participants representing national partners and members of Glass for Europe participated in the internal workshop “Lifecycle carbon calculation tool”. In 2022, Glass for Europe run calculations on carbon savings and carbon payback times of double and triple glazed windows in the residential sector and included the results in an informative paper released in October: …
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The Association of Glass Nordic (AGN) joins Glass for Europe as new national partner
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2023 starts with a new National Partner joining Glass for Europe’s family: the Association of Glass Nordic (AGN). The glass industry associations in the Nordic countries have many years of fruitful cooperation behind them. The collaboration is formalized through the Association of Glass Nordic (AGN).
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