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Global Infrastructure Investor Association

GIIA

GIIA is the voice of the world's infrastructure investors.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Anna Stürgkh (Member of the European Parliament)

17 Jul 2025 · Introduction

Response to European Sustainability Reporting Standards

7 Jul 2023

Feedback can be found in attached form
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Response to EU Solar Energy Communication

12 Apr 2022

GIIA is the membership body for the world’s leading investors in infrastructure, and advisors to the sector, who collectively represent US$1.3 trillion of infrastructure assets under management across 66 countries with one third of those assets in the UK. Our members are investing today to provide the smart, sustainable, and innovative infrastructure needed for our communities and economies to thrive (a list of GIIA members can be found at http://giia.net/membership). In Europe, GIIA members have made considerable investments towards renewable and particularly solar. GIIA’s solar investments are predominantly based in France Germany and Iberia. Thus far over $4billion has been invested in 37 sites representing 5.8GW of capacity. In Spain alone GIIA members have invested in 10 sites with a capacity of 4.3GW, almost a third of the entire Spanish solar capacity. GIIA welcome Solar Power Europe recommendations for the EU Solar Strategy and emphasizes the below. Integrate and connect the solar energy grid. Connecting increased capacity of solar energy to the grid will require the unlocking of public and private investment in transmission, distribution and smart grid. “€60 billion of investment is necessary if Europe wants to maintain the 55% reduction of GHG emissions according to the European Commission”. Capital needs to be allocated to the right projects, a regulatory framework needs to be developed which incentivises investment in volume and the right technologies. Furthermore, the huge increase in grid connections will require a modernisation of grid connection practice. The current administrative process is not fit for purpose and needs a redesign to adapt to a decentralised system, permitting could play a crucial role in this, the EU commission can accelerate the modernisation of grids by tailoring permits to a decentralised grid system. Moreover, a modernised grid will need to be augmented by large scale storage to ensure efficiency and supply and diminishing of wasted electricity. Regulation will be a key factor in unlocking investment and delivery of a modernised grid. The Clean Energy Package is a welcome step forward, however, a one size fits all approach will note work given the wide interstate policies that exist within the European Union. The challenge will lie in delivering and implementing these technical policies. National frameworks will need to be adapted to ensure harmonisation and a strong, cohesive energy market. Deployment of integrated solar with multiple applications Of importance is the current barrier to supply and availability of physical solar panels, modules and infrastructure which is adapted for dual-land use, which is due to the lack of an attractive and visible market and of course current volatility within Europe. In addition, due to the initial high cost and lifetime operational costs, solar has a high barrier to entry. These costs are driven by regulatory barriers, unclear permitting procedures and technical complexity from merging agriculture and solar, these factors increase the risk of a project and as a result of high risk, decrease investor appetite. In order to overcome these risks, a regulatory framework which incentivises investment needs to be developed. These frameworks need to include guidelines on the application of permitting procedures for each technology and project. Furthermore, specific tenders area needed to drive the development of technologies to overcome financial risks. Moreover, there are policy gaps for the development of integrated solar (BIPV) due to the low levels of harmonisation of the certification process for construction. This process is a directly linked to the poor implementation of the 2011 Construction Products Regulation. Despite this regulation, member states do not recognise these procedures which means that integrated manufacturers (BIPV) who have products which are accepted in one nation, need to undergo different certifications in another.
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Meeting with Henrik Hololei (Director-General Mobility and Transport)

26 Jan 2022 · Decarbonisation of transport

Meeting with Mauro Raffaele Petriccione (Director-General Climate Action)

11 May 2021 · Sustainable finance

Meeting with Agnieszka Skonieczna (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton)

25 Aug 2020 · Infrastructure investment; COVID-19 and impact on sustainable and digital

Meeting with Estelle Goeger (Cabinet of Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni)

23 Jan 2020 · European Green Deal/InvestEU

Meeting with Aliénor Margerit (Cabinet of Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni)

23 Jan 2020 · European Green Deat / InvestEU

Meeting with Florentine Hopmeier (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen)

21 Feb 2019 · Update on global and EU investment environment

Meeting with Paulina Dejmek Hack (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker)

6 Jun 2018 · Speech on the Juncker Plan and InvestEU

Meeting with Florentine Hopmeier (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen)

20 Feb 2018 · Infrastructure investment needs and challenges in Europe