A European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research, Telecoms and
Energy (ITRE) draft report on the revision of the Renewable Energy
Directive for the period 2021 – 2030 calls upon the European Union to
raise its 2030 renewable energy target to at least 35% and re-introduce
binding national targets for 2030.
The report by Spanish MEP
José Blanco López forms
the basis of the European Parliament’s position on the new Renewable
Energy Directive, which will determine the future of the renewable
energy deployment in the EU, according to Climate Action Network (CAN)
Europe.
López calls upon the EU to raise the 2030 renewable energy target to
"at least 35%”, arguing that "the Commission proposal and the European
Council endorsement of the 27% target occurred before the signature of
the Paris Agreement and were based on technology cost estimates which
have already proven to be overly pessimistic and are now outdated”.
He also calls for re-introducing binding national targets for 2030,
arguing, "national binding targets have been the most important driver
for renewable energy policies and investments in many Member States”.
CAN Director
Wendel Trio said that raising the
target to at least 35% is a step in the right direction, but still stops
short of fulfilling the EU’s commitment under the Paris Agreement.
"This report should match the level of ambition set out by the
Parliament’s report on the overarching governance regulation, which
calls for an at least 45% target. We welcome the call for national
binding targets, which would strengthen investor confidence and in turn
reduce transition costs,” Trio added.
For its part, environmental group Greenpeace noted that the
Parliament is right to ramp up the EU’s renewable energy targets and to
require each country do their share to fight climate change. "But Mr
Blanco López is in danger of compromising too soon, he can and should
prioritise access for renewables and give people real control of their
energy bills,”
Sebastian Mang, climate and energy
policy adviser with Greenpeace EU. "Renewable energy ranks amongst the
cheapest in Europe, and decentralised ownership in solar and wind
generation allows communities to switch off dirty coal and nuclear while
maximising the benefits of producing and consuming energy locally.”
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/ep-increase-eus-share-renewable-energy/