Renewable energy: A more ambitious target is needed for 2030

The EU renewable industry is calling on EU policymakers to show more ambition for renewables in the future EU climate and energy policy and in the action plan to tackle the energy crisis. More than 140 participants joined the conference "rescuing Europe from energy dependency: the role of renewables" organized by the EU renewable energy industry on Monday 22 September, which gathered representatives from EU institutions, as well as energy experts from the IEA and the renewable energy sector.

A month ahead of the European Council, which is expected to adopt an official position on the Commission’s proposal for future EU climate and energy policies, AEBIOM, EGEC, ESHA, ESTELA, ESTIF and EUREC have sent a clear message to the EU institutions: the Commission’s 2030 vision does not reflect the potential of diverse renewable energy options, be it renewable heating and cooling or dispatchable renewable electricity. They welcomed European Commission President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker’s ambition to create "a Europe’s Energy Union to become the world number one in renewable energies".

The security of energy supply crisis faced by the EU today makes the need to strengthen the development of renewable energy sources urgent. Combined with energy efficiency measures, they represent the only sustainable way to increase EU energy independency, tackle climate change, and strengthen our economy. This requires, among other things, an ambitious EU renewable energy target distributed in national legally binding targets among member states.

"In their forthcoming decision in October, it is essential that Member States consider Renewables as a no regret option for the future EU energy mix, including alleviating our energy dependency," said EGEC President Burkhard Sanner. "The Commission’s 2030 proposal of a 40% reduction target for GHG emissions and a 27% target for renewable energy is merely the equivalent of ‘business-as-usual’. The RES objective needs to be revised upwards," he added. "For the EU binding renewable target to have an effect, binding national targets must be defined. We doubt that national voluntary objectives would deliver," added AEBIOM Secretary General Jean-Marc Jossart.

"The design of the future energy system needs to focus on the consumer, making them a part of the solution", said Pedro Dias, Secretary-General of ESTIF. "In this particular context, renewable heating technologies can provide more stable and affordable options to households and industry, while promoting local investments and jobs creation" he added. The Commission’s proposal also does not recognize sufficiently the potential of dispatchable renewable energy sources in the electricity sector. "While all renewable energy technologies have an important and complementary role to ensure a transition towards a sustainable energy system, concentrated solar thermal and geothermal energy, as well as biomass and hydropower can facilitate the integration of variable sources" said Marcel Bial, Secretary General of ESTELA. The European renewable industry urges EU Policy makers to take note of the outcomes of this conference as significant inputs for their future decisions.

AEBIOM is the European Association representing the bioenergy sector in Europe. The main aim of AEBIOM is to develop the market for sustainable bioenergy such as bioheat, electricity from biomass and biofuels (including biogas).

EUREC is the leading association of research centres and university departments active in the area of renewable energy. The purpose of the association is to promote and support the development of innovative technologies and human resources to enable a prompt transition to a sustainable energy system.

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ESTIF is the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation representing the whole value chain of solar thermal from research and testing to manufacturers and service providers

ESHA (The European Small Hydropower Association) represents the interest of the hydropower sector by promoting the benefits and opportunities of hydropower at EU level.

ESTELA is the European Solar Thermal Electricity Association representing the industry of solar thermal electricity (concentrated solar power) from manufacturing firms to research institutes in Europe and MENA region.

EGEC The European Geothermal Energy Council is the voice of the geothermal sector in Europe, representing members from 28 European countries including private companies, national associations, consultants, research centres, geological surveys, and public authorities.

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