Energy

Supporting Europe’s energy transition

In the context of EU energy, industrial and sustainability policy, adhesives and sealants are enabling technologies. They support energy and resource efficiency, renewable energy deployment, and the long-term durability and reliability of systems. They contribute directly to Europe’s competitiveness by enabling high-performance materials and technologies used in sectors such as renewable energy, construction, and advanced manufacturing of, for example, semiconductors and electronics. At the same time, adhesives and sealants support sustainability objectives through improved energy efficiency and reduced resource use.

Their contribution aligns with broader EU policy objectives on product longevity and repairability, including the introduction of repairability considerations in product frameworks such as energy labelling. Under the Construction Products Regulation, adhesives and sealants are considered construction products because they become a permanent part of buildings and infrastructure, directly affecting durability, safety and energy performance.

The technical applications of adhesives and sealants, and the benefits afforded

The technical applications of adhesives and sealants promote renewable energy systems, energy efficiency in buildings, and lower material use for energy systems.

Renewable energy systems

Adhesives and sealants are integral to the development and operation of renewable energy technologies, including solar and wind energy systems.

In renewable energy systems such as solar and wind, adhesives and sealants enable lightweight, durable structures that withstand environmental stress while maintaining long‑term performance. This supports higher energy efficiency, lower maintenance needs and improved system reliability.

Lightweight and structurally optimised components increase energy yield, while long-lasting bonds reduce maintenance and extend service life. Without adhesive bonding, many of these technologies would not be feasible at scale.

Buildings and energy efficiency

Adhesives and sealants are widely used in building fabric, particularly in window and door installation. One-component foams (OCFs) connect components, seal joints, and provide thermal and acoustic insulation. When applied, they expand and fill gaps between building elements, such as between a window frame and the surrounding wall. This directly affects energy performance. Buildings account for more than 40% of CO₂ emissions in the EU, largely due to energy use during operation. Effective sealing and insulation reduce heat loss, lower energy demand and improve indoor comfort over decades.

Lower material use for energy systems

Beyond specific applications, adhesive bonding contributes to broader energy efficiency by enabling lightweight design and durable products.

By joining different materials without compromising their properties, adhesives allow the use of lighter components while maintaining performance. This reduces material use and energy demand over the product life cycle. At the same time, durable bonding extends product lifetimes, avoiding unnecessary replacement and the associated energy and resource use.

This can be seen in practice across energy systems. In wind turbines, for example, adhesives bond rotor blade structures without damaging lightweight composite materials, enabling large blades that maximise energy output while remaining durable under high mechanical stress. In solar technologies, furthermore, adhesives enable lightweight and flexible solar films that can be installed on existing roofs.  Their low weight and flexibility allow installation on roofs that cannot support conventional rigid panels.