The Renewable Energy
Directive 2009/28/EC established a European framework for the
promotion of renewable energy, setting mandatory national renewable
energy targets for achieving a 20% share of renewable energy in the
final energy consumption and a 10% share of energy from renewable
sources in transport by 2020.
The purpose of this
Report is to assess Member States' progress in the promotion and
use of renewable energy along the trajectory towards the 2020
targets and to report on the sustainability of biofuels and
bioliquids consumed in the EU and the impacts of this consumption
in accordance with the Directive.
The report concludes
that there has been a generally solid initial start at EU level
but with slower than expected removal of key barriers to renewable
energy growth, with additional efforts by particular Member
States being necessary. It also concludes that:
- deviations from
national plans increase the regulatory risk faced by investors and
barriers that should, but have not yet been addressed through
the implementation of the renewable energy Directive, remain to be
overcome;
- at EU and Member
States level, further efforts are needed in terms of
administrative simplification and clarity of planning and
permitting procedures and for infrastructure development and
operation;
- further efforts are
also needed regarding the treatment and inclusion of renewable
energy production within the electricity system;
- the general
economic conditions in the EU today, together with
disruptive changes to support schemes for renewable energy
(again, raising regulatory risk), suggest that further measures
will be needed at Member State level in order to stay on the
trajectory and for the targets to be achieved. Addressing such
barriers will contribute significantly to the cost-effective
deployment of renewable energy and the achievement of the EU's
targets;
- technology
development and cost reductions are also critical, and these
will be explored in the Commission's forthcoming Communication on
energy technology and innovation.