EU sets 2030 renewable energy target of 27%
Oct 24, 2014 - Peter Bennett - pv-tech.org
The European Council has reached an agreement over
the 2030 climate and energy policy framework.
The council has agreed a binding EU target of an
at least 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. This target will
be delivered collectively by the EU, with all Member
States involved in the effort.
A renewables target of 27% has been met with a lukewarm
response.
Commenting on the importance of the deal, outgoing
EU climate action commissioner Connie Hedegaard said:
''[I am] very proud that the 28 EU leaders, despite
economic uncertainty and other severe international
crises, were able to get their act together on this
pressing climate challenge. A binding 40% CO2 reduction
effort domestically in Europe is not an easy task.
It can only be achieved through a major transformation
in all parts of the society. That is why the EU leaders'
decision to adopt the Commission's proposal is an
ambitious and important step forward.”
The EU target for at least a 27% mix of renewable
energy by 2030 will be binding at an EU level only.
However, a number of renewable energy bodies felt
that the commission could have been more ambitious
with its renewable targets. Frauke Thies, policy
director at the European Photovoltaic Industry Association
(EPIA) said: "The renewables target is a very
small step to support the enormous potential that
solar and other renewables represent. It is still
an important signal of political resolve to overcome
the existing market barriers and the adverse national
political contexts where some Member States have
implemented retroactive measures for renewables.”
The EU has also set “an indicative target
at the EU level of at least 27% for improving energy
efficiency in 2030”. Hedegaard admitted that
the agreed target fell short of the commission’s
ambition for energy efficiency.
The EU hopes that its “ambitious” 2030
deal will set the tone for next year’s Paris
2015 agreement which will see the world’s first
global climate change agreement negotiated that calls
for action from all countries, rich and poor. Hedegaard
commented: “This deal is important not only
to Europe and the Europeans, but also to the rest
of the world. We have sent a strong signal to other
big economies and all other countries: we have done
our homework, now we urge you to follow Europe's
example.”
Hedegaard concluded: “The direction towards
2030 has been set. States, regions, municipalities,
businesses, investors and citizens now all know where
we are heading. This is a very good day for Europe's
climate politics.''
Read the orginal article: http://www.pv-tech.org/news/eu_sets_2030_renewable_energy_target_of_27
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