PURPOSE: to achieve a share of at least 32 % of energy from renewable sources in the Union's gross final consumption of energy by 2030.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources.
CONTENT: the Directive defines a common framework for the promotion of energy production from renewable sources.
Binding overall Union target by 2030
Member States shall collectively ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in the Union's gross final consumption of energy in 2030 is at least 32 %.
The Commission shall assess that target with a view to submitting a legislative proposal by 2023 to increase it where there are further substantial costs reductions in the production of renewable energy, where needed to meet the Union's international commitments for decarbonisation, or where a significant decrease in energy consumption in the Union justifies such an increase.
Member States shall set national contributions to meet, collectively, the binding overall Union target as part of their integrated national energy and climate plans.
Support schemes for energy from renewable sources
The Directive aims to strengthen renewable electricity production through market-based support schemes. This support shall be granted in an open, transparent, competitive, non-discriminatory and cost-effective manner. Member States may exempt small-scale installations and demonstration projects from tendering procedures.
In order to ensure financial stability, Member States shall publish a long-term schedule setting out the expected allocation of support, including an indicative timetable, the frequency of tendering procedures where appropriate, the expected capacity, the budget or maximum unitary support expected to be allocated and the eligible technologies envisaged, if any. This schedule shall be updated on an annual basis or, where necessary, to reflect recent market developments or expected allocation of support.
Renewables self-consumers
Member States shall ensure the establishment of a regulatory framework which would empower renewables self-consumers to generate, consume, store, and sell electricity without facing disproportionate burdens.
Integration of renewable energy into heating and cooling
Each Member State shall endeavour to increase the share of renewable energy in that sector by an indicative 1.3 percentage points as an annual average calculated for the periods 2021-2025 and 2026-2030. This increase will be limited to 1.1 percentage points, as an indication, for Member States where waste heat and cold is not used.
Transport sector
The Directive aims to accelerate the use of renewable energy in the transport sector by requiring fuel suppliers to achieve a level of at least 14% of energy produced from renewable sources in transport (minimum share). In this minimum share, the contribution of advanced biofuels as a share of final energy consumption in the transport sector shall be at least 0.2% in 2022 and at least 1% in 2025 and at least 3.5% in 2030.
Biofuels
The Directive defines sustainability and greenhouse gas emission reduction criteria for biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels. From 2019 onwards, the contribution of first-generation biofuels to EU targets is expected to decrease gradually to zero by 2030.
Information
Information on support measures shall be made available to all relevant stakeholders, including vulnerable consumers, energy consumers, energy users, installers, architects, suppliers of heating, cooling and electricity equipment and systems and suppliers of vehicles compatible with the use of renewable energy and intelligent transport systems.
Information on the benefits and energy efficiency of equipment for the use of heating or cooling energy and electricity from renewable sources shall be made available either by the supplier of the equipment or system or by the competent authorities.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 24.12.2018.
TRANSPOSITION: no later than 30.6.2021.