EU Renewable Energy Policy
The basis for much EU policy on renewable energy traces its origins back to the highly influential Commission White Paper ‘Energy for the Future: Renewable Sources of Energy’. December 1997
EU Legislation on renewable energy
The promotion of electricity from renewable energy sources
A Directive on the promotion of the electricity produced from renewable energy source in the internal electricity market was adopted on the 27th September 2001. The overall indicative target of the directive is to increase the share of renewable energy production to 12% of total energy use and of renewable electricity production to 22% of total electricity consumption in 2010. The directive holds indicative targets for the share of renewable electricity production per EU Member State.
Direct link to directive text: (Directive 2001/77/EC).
Directive on renewable transport fuels
This European directive adopted on the 17th May 2003 aims to substantially increase the use of biofuels for transport, and in particular for road transport. National measures are to be taken by countries across the EU aiming at replacing 5.75 % of all transport fossil fuels (petrol and diesel) with biofuels by 2010. Directive (2003/30/EC) for the promotion of the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport.
A great weakness of the directive is that it the targets are only indicative and not mandatory, this has led to low compliance so far among Member States. In their national reports, several Member States deviated from the reference value of 2% by 2005 that is stated in the directive. Having examined the reasons given, the Commission considers that the targets adopted by seven of the Member States are not in compliance with the Directive’s requirements. These are Denmark (target of 0.0%), Ireland (0.06%), Finland (0.1%), the United Kingdom (0.3%), Hungary (0.4-0.6%), Poland (0.5%) and Greece (0.7%). Malta and Italy have not submitted any progress reports at all.
The Commission’s negative assessments rest on the fact that the reasons given lack relevance, seem incorrect, put the desirability of the Directive itself into question, or would – if correct – apply to all Member States; or that the proposed target would not promote the use of biofuels. In second half of 2006 the Commission will conduct a review of the Biofuels directive. One idea that the Commission will be considering is the introduction of making the transport fuel providers responsible for meeting Biofuels obligations. In February 2006 the Commission released a Communication on biofuels, while not leagally binding it indicates the direction of EU Biofuels promotion.
Member States’ national reports under the biofuels Directive.
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letter from members reacting on Biofuels Communication |
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letter from members reacting on Biofuels Communication |
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Press release from WWF on Biofuels Communication |
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Press Release: Renewable energy: European Commission proposes ambitious biomass and biofuels action plan and calls on Member States to do more for green electricity |
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Criteria for assessing Environmental, Economic, and Social Aspects of Biofuels in Developing Countries, Oeko Institute, 2005 |
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Transport biofuels: exploring links with the energy and agriculture sectors, EEA 2004 |
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EEB Position Paper on the Draft Directive on the promotion of the use of biofuels for transport and the Draft Directive amending Directive 92/81/EEC with regard to the possibility of applying a reduced rate of excise duty on certain mineral oils containing biofuels and on biofuels, COM (2001) 547; EEB; May 2002. |
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Letter on Directives for the Promotion of Biofuels to All Commissioners of the European Commission, CAN-Europe, WWF, T&E, 1st October 2001. |
Directive on Renewable Heating and Cooling
Following substantial advocacy including from CAN and its member organisation Energy Commissioner Pielbags in the beginning of 2006 following the vote on the own initiative report on renewable heating and cooling in the European Parliament promised that the Commission will before the end of the year to present a draft for a new directive for the promotion of renewable heating and cooling. Such a directive would plug the current gap in RES legislation. CAN Europe and its members will follow closely the drafting process of this new directive
EU Biomass Action Plan
Following a online Public consultation ending in beginning of 2005 the Commission produced a “Biomass Action Plan” in November. Recent analysis made it very clear that existing renewable energy targets in the electricity sector for 2010 as well as future targets are unlikely to be met in many Member States unless biomass use is expanded.
The action plan focus on the following issues: |
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Current use and future potential, land availability, food & other industrial needs |
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Functioning solid biofuels European market including international trade |
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Socio-economic issues and proper approach to the EU citizen |
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Strategic research agenda
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DG TREN information on the Biomass Action Plan
Looking ahead
Renewable energy in Member States is already contributing significantly towards meeting countries commitments under Kyoto. If properly developed they could play an even greater role in decarbonising Europe’s energy system in addition to all the other benefits renewable energy has. It is clear that adopting ambitious, legally-binding, national targets for renewable energy would demonstrate the EU long-term commitment to renewable energy and would significantly enhance investor confidence. A growing number of actors are calling for the adoption of 2020 targets; this would also dramatically increase the Community’s likelihood of meeting 2010 targets.
Other European Renewable Energy Initiatives
Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign
In order to promote the uptake of renewable energy and to promote energy efficiency the European Commission in July 2005 launched a Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign with the aim to raise public awareness and promote sustainable energy production and use among individuals and organisations, private companies and public authorities, professional and energy agencies, industry associations and NGOs across Europe.
"Intelligent Energy - Europe" (EIE) is the Community’s support programme for non-technological actions in the field of energy, precisely in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. The duration of the programme is from 2003-2006.
The Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) is the Union’s main instrument for the funding of research in Europe. "Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems" is a Priority thematic area, and "Sustainable energy systems" a sub-priority.
An important part of the Action Programme for Renewables contained in the European Commissions White Paper is the Campaign for Take-Off for Renewables (1999-2003), which forms an integral part of the Community Strategy and Action Plan for Renewable Energy Sources by 2010.
Renewable Energy Certificate System
Renewable Energy Certificate System (RECS) is the initiative of European companies to create a voluntary market for green energy. RECS advocates a standard certificate as evidence of the production of renewable energy and provides a methodology for trading or otherwise using it separate to the associated physical energy. This enables a market for renewable energy to be created, so prompting the development of new renewable energy capacity in Europe.
Eugene
EUGENE (European Green Electricity Network) is an independent group of experts from environmental and consumer organisations, and from research institutes that has developed a quality label for Green Electricity.
Support of the EUGENE Standard is open to all non-government based non-profit organisations, that do not represent industry and which have an interest in the promotion of sustainable energy technologies and are active in, have a focus on, or interest in climate change and energy issues.
Switching to Green Electricity can make a difference! – The role of businesses and public authorities in promoting climate protection, WWF, July 2002.
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