Solarcentury supports European solar days
We are joining solar energy organisations across Europe to raise the profile of solar energy and promote the use of the sun as an energy source throughout Europe. The first European Solar Days will be celebrated on 16-17 May 2008 when over 4000 different events will be staged in ten European countries.
Notably, the celebrating countries exclude our company's country of origin, the United Kingdom, whose government this month witnesses increasing pressure to support renewable energy with a Feed-in Tariff mechanism, similar to those seen across much of Europe. Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) provide a proven long-term financial incentive for generators to invest in renewable energy. European countries with long-term feed-in tariffs include Germany, France, Poland, the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Greece, Portugal, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Belgium, Slovenia and the Slovak Republic.
Jeremy Leggett, our Executive Chairman says: 'Solar power is a proven technology that has the capability of dramatically cutting C02 emissions on buildings across the world. As the urgency to implement renewable energy sources increases, it is vital that the industry clubs together to help people understand how this remarkable stuff works.' He adds: 'We're proud to see the EPIA and ESTIF co-ordinate in this way, just sorry that our own home nation is not supporting solar to any where near the degree of that of the rest of Europe.'
The origins of European Solar Days began in Austria in 2002. The idea was then taken up by Switzerland and Germany. Germany now dedicates a week to this successful renewable energy awareness-raising campaign. "The 'Woche der Sonne' in Germany has become the most successful Solar Campaign ever staged and has been a key factor in the increased use of solar energy throughout Germany," says Gerhard Stryi-Hipp, Managing Director of BSW-Solar.
Solar energy is one of the most accessible and affordable sources of renewable energy available to ordinary citizens and can be used on any house or office building. And this is not only true for southern countries such as Spain and Portugal. Solar energy installations can also be found in northern countries such as Norway and Sweden, where there is an ever growing number of installations.
Solar Days are now being bought to the rest of Europe, with Belgium, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Slovenia joining in 2008. Other countries are expected to join the initiative in 2009 and it is planned to extend the Solar Days throughout Europe in the future. The European Solar Days, which are coordinated by ESTIF in close cooperation with EPIA, are supported by 25 organisations at a national and European level.
For further information on European Solar Days events see: http://www.solarday.eu
