EWS | DIGEST EU races for renewables as it makes dash from gas WorldGBC pushes for circular economy ahead of COP 27 The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has launched a global programme to accelerate the adoption of resource efficiency principles in the building and construction sector. The Circularity Accelerator programme, which is being launched in the run-up to the Cairo COP 27 UN climate change summit later this year, is designed to create heightened demand for the implementation of resource-efficiency solutions. It also seeks to raise and align ambition across the construction industry by working towards WorldGBCs circularity and resource efficiency goals for 2030 and 2050. The 2030 goal includes the elimination of construction waste in landfill and working towards a built environment with net zero whole life resource depletion. The 2050 goal is for a built environment with net zero whole life resource depletion, while working towards the restoration of resources and natural systems within a thriving circular economy. Commissions plan is designed to wean EU off Russian sources of energy The European Commission is introducing a new legal obligation for solar panels to be installed on rooftops of new buildings, as part of efforts to increase the target for the proportion of electricity generated from renewable sources. The final version of the REPowerEU plan, designed to reduce Europes dependence on Russian natural gas, was published by the Brussels-based commission last month. It proposes that the target for the share of EU generation from renewable sources should be increased to 45% by 2030, compared with 40% proposed in last years Fit for 55 plan. As part of this massive scaling up and speeding up of renewable energy, REPowerEU proposes a dedicated EU solar strategy to double photovoltaic capacity by 2025 and install 600GW by 2030. Other initiatives include a phased-in legal obligation to install solar panels on new public, commercial and residential buildings. The commission has also recommended that the EUs Renewable Energy Directive should be amended to recognise such sources of power as being of an overriding public interest. The REPowerEU plan proposes that member states should put in place dedicated go to areas for renewables, with shortened and simplified permitting processes in areas with lower environmental risks. The commission has confirmed proposals in Marchs draft REPowerEU plan to double the number of heat pumps installed across the EU to 30 million by 2030, saving 35 billion m3 of natural gas. To further reduce reliance on Russian gas, the plan sets a target of 10 million tonnes of domestic renewable hydrogen production by 2030 across the EU. C O M P L ETE E N E R G Y E F F I C I E N T S O L U T I O N S F O R A N Y VA LV E R E Q U I R E M E N T For more than a century we have designed market leading solutions. Our variable flow valves, with outstanding hysteresis performance, can help reduce energy consumption by up to 27% based on a 10% improvement in the controlled flow rate. So, why not take comfort in our efficiencies. Find out more at Cranefs.com/solutions 21400_CRANE_FS_COMPLETE_AD_133X186.indd 1 14/02/2022 13:30 8 June 2022 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE June 22 pp08 News.indd 8 27/05/2022 17:59