The French Presidency of the Council of the European Union sent a series of questions to Member States, on 18 January, regarding the proposed revision of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (2018/2001) (RED II) and in particular the provisions relating to industry and transport.
While the European Commission has proposed to introduce new binding sub-targets for renewable energy in industry (see EUROPE 12762/8), the Presidency notes the request of several States for more “flexibility” in this sector.
These sub-objectives are to achieve: - a 50% share for renewable fuels of non-biological origin used as feedstocks or energy carriers in industry by 2030; - an average growth of renewable energy in industry of at least 1.1 percentage points per year by 2030.
Faced with the reluctance of some Member States to set binding targets, Paris is asking EU countries for alternative solutions to ensure an increase in the share of renewable energy in industry.
The Presidency also asks them about their expectations regarding renewable energy in the transport sector.
In order to promote renewable fuels, the Commission has proposed to set a target of reducing the emissions intensity of transport fuels, including aviation and maritime fuels, by at least 13% by 2030.
The former Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council had suggested that it should be left to the Member States to choose the counting methodology they wanted to use to achieve this objective, but that this should be put in between brackets (see EUROPE 12851/4).
See the French Presidency document (in French): https://bit.ly/3AB60GA (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)