- According to the new legislation, at least 42.5 percent of the EU’s energy needs, higher than before, but 45 percent if possible, should be covered by renewable energy sources
- In order to achieve this, the recently adopted rules simplify the licensing and administrative procedures for the use of renewable energy sources
- With the spread of new fuels, greenhouse gas emissions in transport are expected to decrease by 14.5 percent
On Tuesday, the Parliament voted to amend the renewable energy directive, thereby helping to fulfill the commitments made in the European Green Agreement and the REPowerEU plan.
The aim of the legislative amendment adopted by the Parliament and already informally negotiated with the Council consisting of member states is to increase the share of renewable energy sources in the EU’s final energy consumption to 42.5 percent by 2030. At the same time, the representatives would consider a 45 percent share desirable in each member state.
Thanks to the planned measures, the approval of new power plants, such as solar or wind energy facilities, as well as the conversion of existing systems will also be faster. The national authorities must complete the licensing procedure for new facilities within 12 months, if they are located in a target area designated for the utilization of renewable energy sources . The duration of the procedure cannot exceed 24 months anywhere else.
Legislators expect from the rise of renewable energy sources that the emission of greenhouse gases in the transport sector will decrease by 14.5 percent by 2030 through the use of modern biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin, such as hydrogen.
Due to parliamentary amendments, member states will have to use innovative renewable energy technologies in at least 5 percent of newly installed renewable energy capacities. The House also called for stricter criteria for the use of biomass so that the EU does not support unsustainable practices. In the opinion of the representatives, biomass extraction should be carried out in such a way that it does not damage soil quality and biological diversity.
According to the reporter
Markus Pieper (EPP, Germany) :”In order to achieve greater energy independence and CO2 reduction, we have raised our targets for renewable energy sources. This directive proves that Brussels can be both bureaucracy-free and pragmatic. We declared renewable energy sources to be of priority public interest, and thereby simplified the licensing process. We focus on wind energy, photovoltaics, hydropower, geothermal energy and tidal currents. Biomass from wood is still classified as renewable energy. In accordance with the principle of ‘positive silence’, investments are considered approved if there is no administrative feedback. The future is wide, nothing is impossible. We now urgently need an EU electricity market and an immediate transition to hydrogen for a greener transition.”
The next steps
The directive was adopted by the deputies with 470 votes, 120 against and 40 abstentions. In order for it to enter into force, the legislation must be officially adopted by the Council.
Background
The revision of the currently effective legislation is called “Towards the 55%!” it became necessary due to a package of measures that adapts the existing climate protection and energy legislation to the new EU objective, according to which greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by at least 55 percent by 2030.
An even higher target value is included in the REpowerEU package, which would reduce European dependence on the import of Russian fossil fuels in view of the Russian aggression in Ukraine. The new version of the renewable energy directive, which has just been adopted, also provides for the shortening of the approval procedure required for the exploitation of renewable energy sources.
Conference on the future of Europe
By adopting the report, the Parliament fulfills the citizens’ expectations set out in the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe, aimed at accelerating the EU’s green transition, in particular through the following: increasing investments in renewable energy, crude oil and natural gas imports, energy efficiency projects and clean and renewable energy supply through expansion, improving the quality and connectivity of electrical infrastructure to enable the transition to renewable energy sources, investing in technologies for the production of renewable energy such as the efficient production and use of green hydrogen, investing in the exploration of new environmentally friendly energy sources and storage methods.
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