EU intends to expedite the approval procedure for projects including renewable energy with the new legislation
The European Commission has welcomed the provisional agreement reached between the European Parliament and the European Council to reinforce the European Union (E.U.) Renewable Energy Directive.
The deal brings the E.U. one step closer to completing the “Fit for 55” legislation to deliver the European Green Deal and the REPowerEU objectives. The agreement raises the E.U.’s binding renewable target for 2030 to a minimum of 42.5%, up from the current 32% target and almost doubles the existing share of renewable energy in the E.U.
The E.U. would aim to reach 45% of renewables by 2030. The agreement reaffirms the E.U.’s determination to gain its energy independence through faster deployment of home-grown renewable energy and to meet the E.U.’s 55% greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2030. A massive scaling-up and speeding-up of renewable energy across power generation, industry, buildings and transport will reduce energy prices over time and decrease the E.U.’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Taking it to twitter, the European Commission tweeted,
We welcome the agreement between the @Europarl_EN and the @EUCouncil on renewable energy directive.
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) March 30, 2023
The share of renewables in the EU's energy consumption has been raised to 42.5% by 2030, and 45% thereafter.
Each EU country will contribute to this common target.#EUGreenDeal pic.twitter.com/6LdzG2syTm
It further tweeted,
The provisional agreement also includes accelerated permitting procedures for renewable energy projects.
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) March 30, 2023
This will help us – through #REPowerEU – to accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy to replace fossil fuels in homes, industry and power generation. pic.twitter.com/8kLjgwyDip
Under the new law, permitting procedures will be easier and faster. Renewable energy will be recognized as an overriding public interest while preserving a high level of environmental protection. In areas with high renewables potential and low environmental risks, Member States will put in place dedicated acceleration areas for renewables, with particularly short and simple permitting processes.
The agreement includes targets and measures to support the uptake of renewables across various sectors of the economy. The revised Directive strengthens the annual renewables targets for the heating and cooling sector and for renewable energy used in district heating systems. It introduces a specific renewable energy benchmark of 49% for energy consumption in buildings by 2030 to complement EU buildings legislation and guide Member States’ efforts.
The agreement establishes indicative targets of 1.6% of the annual increase in renewable energy use as well as a binding target to reach 42% of renewable hydrogen in total hydrogen consumption in the industry by 2030. The agreement also reinforces the regulatory framework for renewable energy use in transport i.e., 14.5% greenhouse gas intensity reduction or 29% share of renewable energy in final energy consumption, including a combined sub-target of 5.5% for advanced biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin, including a minimum level of 1% for renewable fuels of non-biological origin.
The agreement also contains provisions to support energy system integration via electrification and waste heat uptake as well as an enhanced system of guarantees of origin to improve consumers’ information.
In the future, these criteria will apply to smaller installations, equal to or above 7.5 MW, rather than the 20 MW threshold under the current directive. The agreement includes provisions to ensure that forest biomass is not sourced from certain areas with particular importance from a biodiversity and carbon stock perspective.
Going ahead, the provisional agreement now requires formal adoption by the European Parliament and the European Council.
