On the morning of October 13, 2023, the European Council in Brussels announced that it had adopted a series of measures under the Renewable Energy Directive (part of the legislation in June this year) that requires all EU member states to provide energy for the EU by the end of this decade. Contribute to achieving the common goal of reaching 45% of renewable energy.
According to a European Council press announcement, the new rules target sectors with “slower” integration of renewable energy, including transport, industry and construction. Some industry regulations include mandatory requirements, while others include optional options.
The press announcement states that for the transport sector, member states can choose between a binding target of 14.5% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity from renewable energy consumption by 2030 or a minimum share of renewable energy in final energy consumption by 2030. Accounting for a binding proportion of 29%.
For industry, member states’ renewable energy consumption will increase by 1.5% per year, with the contribution of renewable fuels from non-biological sources (RFNBO) “likely” to decrease by 20%. To achieve this target, member states’ contributions to the EU’s binding overall targets need to meet expectations, or the proportion of fossil fuel hydrogen consumed by member states does not exceed 23% in 2030 and 20% in 2035.
New regulations for buildings, heating and cooling set out an “indicative target” of at least 49% renewable energy consumption in the building sector by the end of the decade. The news announcement states that renewable energy consumption for heating and cooling will “increase gradually.”
The approval process for renewable energy projects will also be accelerated, and specific deployments of “accelerated approval” will be implemented to help achieve the goals. Member states will identify areas worthy of acceleration, and renewable energy projects will undergo a “simplified” and “fast-track licensing” process. Renewable energy projects will also be presumed to be of “overriding public interest”, which will “limit the grounds for legal objection to new projects”.
The directive also strengthens sustainability standards regarding the use of biomass energy, while working to reduce the risk of “unsustainable” bioenergy production. “Member states will ensure that the cascading principle is applied, focusing on support programs and taking due account of the specific national circumstances of each country,” the press announcement stated.
Teresa Ribera, Spain’s acting minister in charge of the ecological transition, said the new rules were “a step forward” in enabling the EU to pursue its climate goals in a “fair, cost-effective and competitive way”. The original European Council document pointed out that the “big picture” caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic have caused energy prices to soar across the EU, highlighting the need to improve energy efficiency and increase renewable energy consumption.
“To achieve its long-term goal of making its energy system independent of third countries, the EU should focus on accelerating the green transition, ensuring that emissions-cutting energy policies reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and promote fair and secure access for EU citizens and businesses across all economic sectors. Affordable energy prices.”
In March, all members of the European Parliament voted in favor of the measure, except for Hungary and Poland, which voted against, and the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, which abstained.
Post time: Oct-13-2023
