Commission calls on EU15 to try harder to meet 2010 renewables targets
The European Commission called for a stronger commitment from the EU15 member states to achieve their 2010 renewables targets in a statement on Wednesday.
The document, “The share of renewable energy in the EU” evaluates the progress in the EU15 to achieve the 2010 target of 22% of electricity consumption from renewable energy sources and the overall target of a 12% share of renewable energy use for all purposes.
The paper highlights the fact that by 2001, the share of renewable energy in total energy production was only 6% among the EU15, compared with 40% for oil, 23% for natural gas, 15% for solid fuels and 16% for nuclear power. The document also points out that only a few member states have until now implemented an attractive framework for renewable energy sources.
To address what it describes as the “meagre results” of the EU15, the Commission is calling on member states to implement appropriate measures to ensure that the 2010 targets are met.
With existing national policies and measures, the Commission projects that the EU15 will achieve a share of only 18-19% of renewable energies as proportion of total electricity consumption, instead of the 2010 target of 22%. Only four member states (Germany, Denmark, Spain and Finland) are on track to achieve their national targets, it concludes. However, the Commission does concede that legislative measures recently adopted by other member states could allow them to achieve their national targets.
The Commission believes that the adoption by the EU15 of directives targeted at the transport and heating sectors will only produce a 10% share of renewables in these segments — 2% below the overall 12% target of renewables in total energy consumption. Although many countries are already promoting the use of bio fuels through tax exemptions, the Commission calls for consolidation of efforts among the EU15 to promote the use of bio fuels to this end.
Overall, the Commission estimates than annual investments of EUR 10-15 billion will be necessary for the EU15 to achieve the 2010 target. For its part, the Commission aims to bring forward new concrete measures, in particular a coordinated biomass plan to enhance biomass energy development, an assessment of the possibility of an off-shore wind policy for the EU, and a strengthening of grid infrastructure. ADS
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