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Long-awaited European Directive on renewable energies comes into force

Directive 2009/28/EC has been published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 5 June 2009. This new legislative act relating to the use of energy from renewable sources forms part of a series of measures the EU is implementing to position itself at the forefront of world energy policy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020. Member States have until 5 December to transpose the Directive.

Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources amends and subsequently repeals Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC. It establishes a common framework for the promotion of energy from renewable sources and sets mandatory national targets for the overall share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy and for the share of energy from renewable sources in transport. It also lays down rules relating to statistical transfers between Member States, joint projects between Member States and with third countries, guarantees of origin, administrative procedures, information and training, and access to the electricity grid for energy from renewable sources. Finally, it establishes sustainability criteria for biofuels and bioliquids.

 

Challenging targets for some Member States

 

The Directive establishes that each Member State must ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy in 2020 is at least its national overall target for the share of energy from renewable sources in that year. Such mandatory national overall targets are consistent with a target of at least a 20 % share of energy from renewable sources in the Community’s gross final consumption of energy in 2020. In order to achieve the targets laid down in the Directive more easily, each Member State shall promote and encourage energy efficiency and energy saving. Individual targets for each Member State vary widely, with Denmark (30%), Estonia (35%), Latvia (40%) and Sweden (49%) being set the highest targets. Nonetheless, a relatively high proportion of the energy consumed in these nations already comes from renewable sources. In contrast, countries such as the UK and Luxembourg, which have traditionally relied more heavily on conventional fuels, will have their work cut out to comply with their targets. The UK for example will have to multiply the share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy in 2005 by a factor of 11 to meet the 2020 target, while Luxembourg will have to move from a paltry 0.9% share in 2005 to 11% in 2020.

 

National renewable energy action plans

 

Member States will be required to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 5 December 2010, except for Article 4 on the adoption of national renewable energy action plans which takes immediate effect. By 30 June 2010, each Member State must have presented a national renewable energy action plan which it will adopt, setting out national targets for the share of energy from renewable sources consumed in transport, electricity and heating and cooling in 2020, and taking into account the effects of other policy measures relating to energy efficiency on final consumption of energy. Each national renewable energy action plan should also include adequate measures to be taken to achieve overall national targets, including cooperation between local, regional and national authorities, planned statistical transfers or joint projects, and national policies to develop existing biomass resources and mobilise new biomass resources for different uses.

 

Promoting use of renewables in transport

 

As well as establishing mandatory targets for the share of gross final consumption of energy from renewable sources, the Directive also establishes that each Member State must ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in all forms of transport in 2020 is at least 10% of the final consumption of energy in transport in that Member State. It also reiterates the need to integrate renewables into the transport sector, construction and urban development. Furthermore, the Directive strengthens the case for renewables by highlighting that energy prices should reflect external costs of energy production and consumption, including, as appropriate, environmental, social and healthcare costs.

 

The Directive also refers to the need to develop transmission and distribution grid infrastructure, intelligent networks, storage facilities and the electricity system, in order to allow the secure operation of the electricity system as it accommodates the further development of electricity production from renewable energy sources, including interconnection between Member States and between Member States and third countries. Member States will also be expected to take appropriate steps to accelerate authorisation procedures for grid infrastructure and to coordinate approval of grid infrastructure with administrative and planning procedures, all of which should encourage future investments in renewables.

 

The Official Journal of the European Communities on 5 June 2009 is highly significant because it also includes Directive 2009/29/EC aimed at improving and extending the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme of the Community, Directive 2009/30/EC regarding the specification of petrol, diesel and gas-oil and introducing a mechanism to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and Directive 2009/31/EC on the geological storage of carbon dioxide, all of which are designed to strengthen the European Union’s climate protection and energy policies.

 

For additional information:

 

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/

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