The directives, three key pieces of legislation in the Clean Energy package for all Europeans that were published last 21st in the Official Gazette of the EU (L328), have come into force on December 24, 2018. The Renewable Energy Directive sets a binding EU target of at least 32% by 2030 revisable in 2023. The Energy Efficiency Directive sets a target for the same year of 32.5%, also with a potential revision upwards in 2023. The new Governance Regulation includes the requirement for the Member States to draw up Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans, from 2021 to 2030 that describe how to achieve the targets. The draft must be presented to the European Commission before the end of the year.
By 2030, the EU will have to meet 32% of its energy needs from renewable sources and reach the main energy efficiency target of 32.5%. The new targets are contained in the revised Directives on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, adopted by the Council. The Council has also approved the so-called Governance Regulation, which establishes the governance framework of the Energy Union and Climate Action. This completes the final phase of the legislative procedure of the three dossiers comprised in the package of measures on clean energy, which have come into force on December 24.
Energy efficiency directive
The Directive sets a framework of measures whose main goal is to ensure that the EU objectives are met by 2020 and 2030. The energy efficiency improvement will bring benefits to the environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen energy security, cut the energy costs of households and businesses, help to alleviate energy poverty and boost growth and employment.
Renewable energy directive
The revision of the Renewable Energy Directive will accelerate Europe’s transition to clean energy, based on a series of renewable sources, such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, tidal, geothermal, biomass energy and biofuels. It sets the target of 32% of EU energy from renewable sources by 2030.
Imposing greater obligations on fuel suppliers so that at least 14% of the energy of the transportation sector comes from renewable sources will accelerate the use of renewable energies in the sector. Meanwhile, conventional biofuels with a high risk of indirect land use change will be phased out by 2030.
Households wishing to produce their own renewable energy – self-consumption -, for example, through the installation of photovoltaic roofs, will get support in the form of broad exemptions from charges or fees for the consumption of their self-generated energy.
Governance regulation
The Governance Regulation defines how the Member States will cooperate with each other and with the European Commission to achieve the ambitious targets set, especially in the field of renewable energies and energy efficiency, as well as the Union’s long-term commitments on greenhouse gases emissions. It also sets control mechanisms that will help ensure that the targets are met and that the various proposed measures conform to a coherent and coordinated approach.
