Communication on renewable energy from the European Commission

The European Commission has tabled a much-awaited ‘communication’ looking at the EU-wide prospects for renewable energy.  EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger published the policy “blueprint on the post-2020 strategy for renewable energy” on Wednesday.  EU energy ministers will discuss the new proposal at a Council meeting on June 15^th.

The Commission’s idea is that renewables, such as solar and wind power, should be generated wherever they are cheapest. It reiterated its backing for an integrated market that would connect to northern Africa, where it sees the potential for large-scale solar generation to supply Europe.

Subsidy schemes should be consistent across the bloc, the Commission said, adding that abrupt changes shatter investor confidence.

The renewables communication only lays out scenarios for how to move on from the 20 percent renewables binding goal, which is one of a set of three green energy targets to be achieved by 2020. The other targets are for a 20 percent reduction in carbon emissions and a non-binding 20 percent cut in energy consumption compared with projected levels.

“Without a suitable framework (after 2020) renewable energy growth will slump,” the Commission said in a statement.

The communication, which sets out proposals on how to promote renewables beyond 2020, was met with a mixed response from MEPs and NGOs.  Green MEP Claude Turmes, who was Parliament’s rapporteur for EU legislation implementing the EU’s binding 20 per cent renewables target for 2020, said, “The Commission’s renewable energy plans are characterised by a lack of vision. They fail to address the current challenges faced by Europe’s renewable energy sector and fail to provide much-needed certainty on the medium and long term strategy to ensure the sector can continue to thrive and provide lasting jobs.”

While many in the renewable energy sector agree on the need for strong guidance, and they want legally binding targets, some of the EU’s 27 member states strongly oppose new legal goals for renewables and would prefer non-binding milestones or nothing at all.

The Communication is available at the DG Energy website.