The European Parliament and the Council have reached a temporary agreement on raising the EU’s binding renewable energy target for 2030 to at least 42.5% of the total energy mix. The institutions also agreed on an additional indicative target of 2.5%, which would put Europe on track for a share of at least 45% renewable energy sources this decade.
If the agreement is officially approved, it will almost double the current share of renewable energy in the EU and bring the EU closer to achieving the European Green Deal and RePower EU targets.
During the 15-hour negotiations, the institutions also agreed on an additional indicative target of 2.5 percent, which would raise the EU’s target to the 45 percent target campaigned by industry association SolarPower Europe (SPE).
“We believe the negotiators when they say this was the only possible deal,” said Walburga Hemetsberger, SPE’s CEO. “Regarding the indicative 2.5% target, the task now is to use EU instruments to secure the increase. And of course 45% is the floor, not the ceiling. We aim to deliver as much renewable energy as possible by 2030.
The EU achieves an increasing share of renewable energy sources by speeding up and simplifying the permit procedure. Renewable energy is recognized as an overriding public good, and member states are encouraged to introduce renewable energy “go-to areas” in areas with high renewable energy potential and low environmental risks.
The interim agreement now requires formal approval by the European Parliament and the Council. Once this process is completed, the new legislation will be published in the Official Journal of the Union and enter into force.
