Brussels, 27/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - The different European renewable energy industrial sectors have criticised the lack of ambition in the framework for energy and climate policies up to 2030, set out by the European Council on Friday 24 October (see EUROPE 11184).
The European Renewable Energies Federation (EREF) said that it was “very disappointed” by the fact that the 27% renewable energy target was not binding at an EU level and that the 27% energy efficiency target was only indicative at European and national levels. EREF regretted that this outcome constituted a serious setback to the efforts to improve energy security, enhance green growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This position was shared by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), which regretted a “missed opportunity” for setting out an ambitious goal for renewable energies up to 2030. EWEA said that the different member states have ignored appeals from the renewable energy sector and European businesses to set a binding national target of at least 30%. It underlined the uncertainty surrounding the requirements for meeting the national targets on renewables because the member states themselves had to define their commitments on collectively attaining the European target. EWEA said that this undermines the EU position in the climate negotiations in Paris at the end of 2015 because no party was guaranteeing that the 40% target on reducing emissions by 2030 was not just an “empty shell”.
For the organisations representing the geo-thermal sector (EGEC), solar power (ESTIF) and biomass (AEBIOM), the European Council had “failed to set an appropriate regulatory framework”. These three organisations said that the targets set out were not enough to meet the needs of Europeans and more should be done with renewables for heating and cooling. They also identified the budgetary constraints confronting member states during this sluggish recovery period, as well as the frenzied lobbying carried out by the traditional fossil fuel industries. Despite the low level of ambition demonstrated, these three organisations say that they are confident about the continued development of renewable energies and are prepared to work with the EU institutions to ensure that the political framework that is developed allows for positive growth in renewable heating and cooling systems, in line with the strong potential in this sector.
The European Biogas Association (EBA), said that the 27% goal for renewables was not only insufficient for achieving the renewables potential, but that its exclusively indicative nature at a national level was also a threat, and that this decision would lead to a situation where some states that had more ambitious goals for energy transition would invest while the rest of Europe remained lagging behind because they would not have the impression of there being any compulsion to contribute to the Community target.
Biodiesel industry satisfied. The European Biodiesel Board (EBB), which represents 75% of European bio diesel production, welcomes the decision by European leaders, which it said defined the long-term perspectives confirming the increasing need to promote the use of renewable fuels after 2020 and thus set a new long-term perspective for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in transport and sustainable bio diesel development. EBB is pleased that the Commission has been tasked by the European Council with further examining the instruments and measures for a comprehensive and technology neutral approach on EU renewable transport which, in EBB's view, indicates that EU policy on how to include Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) in the development of biofuels should only be considered in the 2030 framework for reducing CO2 emissions. EBB explains in a press release that the international scientific community has also highlighted this uncertainty and that the European Council has “acknowledged that such land use legislation is today premature”. (EH)