At the meeting of European energy ministers in Brussels on Monday 18 December, the Council of the EU reached political agreement in principle (general approach) on the draft revised directive on promoting renewable energy use with a view to achieving a share of at least 27% for renewables in overall EU Energy consumption by 2030.
In the chapter on empowering consumers, the Council general approach agreed by ministers, contains provisions that enable consumers to benefit from simplified notification procedures for small-scale installations. The text also sets out clearly the role, rights and obligations of “renewable self-consumers” and renewable energy communities.
For the heating and cooling sector, member states will have to adopt measures to achieve an indicative annual 1 percentage point increase in the share of renewable energy. As existing national systems and installations differ widely across the EU in this respect, the Council text reflects the specific characteristics of “cooling” installations in warmer climates.
In the transport sector, ministers have raised the renewables target for 2030 to at least 14% of total energy consumption in transport (compared with 12% in the Estonian compromise) and there is also a sub-target of 3% for advanced biofuels, for which double-counting will be allowed. This advanced biofuels target has an intermediate binding milestone of 1% in 2025 to increase investment security and guarantee the availability of fuels throughout the period.
Electromobility is strongly encouraged by two multipliers of 5x for renewable electricity used in road transport, and of 2x for rail transport.
The existing 7% cap on first-generation biofuels is maintained in order to provide certainty for investors. If a member state sets a lower cap, it will be rewarded with the option of lowering its overall target for renewables in transport.
The general approach also clarifies rules on the sustainability criteria and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria that apply to biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels.
The text agreed contains provisions that give member states the possibility of opening up their national support schemes across borders to generators of renewable energy in other member states, but the final decision on this will remain with them.
Lastly, to provide certainty for investments in renewable energy, the Council text, like the Commission’s proposal, addresses the stability of financial support by preventing unjustified retroactive changes to support schemes.
Trialogue negotiations between the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission on this text will be able to begin at the start of 2018 as soon as Parliament has adopted its negotiating mandate. This will probably be in January on the basis of the report drafted by José Blanco López (S&D, Spain) and adopted by the energy committee on 28 November (see EUROPE 11914). (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)