How transport companies meet EU CO₂, ESG & CSRD regulations with SolarOnTop 

Europe’s transport sector is shifting toward cleaner and more sustainable operations. With new rules like CSRD reporting, ESG requirements and EU CO₂ reduction targets, transport companies need practical solutions to reduce emissions and report auditable sustainability data.

For fleet operators, the challenge is reducing emissions, staying compliant and managing costs at the same time. While full electric trucks are the long-term goal, it’s not yet economically feasible for many fleets.

This is where SolarOnTop, a solar retrofit technology for trucks offers a practical and low-CAPEX alternative that helps transport companies stay compliant, reduce emissions and collect reliable ESG data without replacing their existing fleet.

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What is SolarOnTop

SolarOnTop is a solar retrofit system for trucks and trailers, composed of lightweight solar panels installed on the roof to generate clean electricity. The energy generated is stored in a lithium battery and powers onboard systems such as tail lifts, air conditioning, cabin electronics and auxiliary equipment... while also supporting the alternator during driving.

By reducing the load on the diesel engine, SolarOnTop lowers fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions, extends battery life, reduces maintenance needs and provides reliable data for ESG and CSRD reporting.

It can be easily retrofitted to existing vehicles or installed on new fleets, offering a low-CAPEX solution.

1. CSRD & ESG reporting requirements 

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires large companies to report detailed environmental performance, including:

  • • Scope 1: Direct fuel use
  • • Scope 3: Supply chain emissions

Source: European Commission – CSRD

What this means

  • • ESG reports must include accurate and auditable CO₂ data. 
  • • Companies must demonstrate year on year emission reductions. 
  • • Non-compliance can result in financial penalties. 

How SolarOnTop helps

SolarOnTop’s dashboard tracks real-time diesel savings and CO₂ reductions generated by the solar energy on each truck. This gives sustainability and fleet managers accurate, auditable data.

2. EU CO₂ standards for Heavy-Duty vehicles 

The EU has set clear CO₂ reduction targets for heavy-duty vehicles:

  • • 45% reduction by 2030 
  • • 65% reduction by 2035 
  • • 90% reduction by 2040 

These regulations began with a 15% reduction goal for 2025 (Regulation EU 2019/1242) and now cover more vehicle types. Fleet operators are expected to transition to zero-emission vehicles, but full electrification is financially challenging for most companies in the short term. 

Source: EU climate action – Heavy-Duty vehicles

What this means

  • • High reduction targets make compliance mandatory.
  • • Fleets that cannot electrify immediately need transitional technologies.

How SolarOnTop helps

  • • Reduces 3–9 tonnes of CO₂ per truck per year, supporting compliance with EU CO₂ reduction goals. 
  • • Helps transition to zero-emission vehicles by providing immediate emission reductions. 
  • • Works on existing trucks, minimizing capital expenditure. 
Case study

3. Balancing sustainability with cost efficiency 

Decarbonization is not only about compliance, it’s also about keeping your fleet competitive and efficient. Customers increasingly demand green logistics, but switching to electric fleets can cost millions in upfront investment.  

What this means:

  • • High CAPEX for EV trucks and infrastructure is a barrier. 
  • • Shippers and retailers expect sustainable logistics at competitive prices. 

How SolarOnTop helps

  • • Low-CAPEX retrofit that can be installed on existing trucks. 
  • • Typical payback in 2–4 years through fuel savings and lower maintenance costs. 
  • • Reduces total cost of ownership while contributing to ESG/CSRD compliance. 

A Bridge to zero-emission transport 

With stricter EU environmental rules, transport companies are asked to adapt quickly. Solar technology like SolarOnTop offers a practical and cost-effective solution between today’s fleets and tomorrow’s zero-emission transport systems. 

By reducing CO₂ emissions, providing transparent sustainability data and lowering operational costs, SolarOnTop helps fleet operators stay compliant, profitable and future-ready without the big financial investment of full electrification.