Renewable Energy Directive (RED, RED II)

2020 framework targets

Renewable energy directive from 2009 (2009/28/EC) was supporting on overall policy for the production and promotion of energy from renewable sources in the EU. It predicted at least 20 % of EU’s total energy to be filled with renewables by 2020, mainly to be achieved through the national targets of the member states. All EU countries must also ensure that at least 10 % of their transport fuels come from renewables by 2020.

The same directive also specified national renewable energy targets for 2020 for each country, taking into account also the overall potential for renewables (example: 10% in Malta to high of 49% in Sweden). Thus, progress towards national targets is measured every two years when EU countries publish national renewable energy progress reports.

Some key findings from the latest EU-wide report from 2017 (based on 2015 national reports data) are the following:

The EU as a whole have achieved a 16% share of renewable energy in 2014 and an 16,4% share in 2015.
Transport sector achieved a 6% share of renewable energy in 2015 but some countries must still intensify their efforts to reach the 10% binding target for transport by 2020.
Energy efficiency: renewable power could help reduce primary energy consumption and improve energy performance of buildings.

2030 framework targets and future steps

As a part of “Clean Energy for all Europeans package”, the European Commission proposed in 2016 an update of the Renewable Energy Directive for the period from 2021 to 2030 (called as RED II)- A final compromise document was agreed among European institutions on June 14^th 2018.

Finally, the revised renewable energy directive 2018/2001/EU (RED II) entered into force in December 2018, aimed at keeping the EU a global leader in renewables and contributes to the EU to meet its emissions reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The new directive establishes a new binding renewable energy target for the EU for 2030 of at least 32%, with a clause for a possible upwards revision by 2023.

The RED II defines sustainabily criteria for liquid biofuels used in trasport, as well as for solid and gaseous biomass fuels for power, heating and cooling production.

Additionly, the member states needed to submit the final National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) to the European Commission by the end of 2019.

Most of the other new elements in the new directive need to be transposed into national law by Member States by 30 June 2021.

Energy for heating/cooling from renewable sources

The level of renewable energy in 2017 of the total energy used for heating and cooling in the European Union accounts 19,5%. According to the year 2004 it incereased from 10.4%. Moreover, the increases in industrial sectors, households and applications of the aerothermal, geothermal and hydrothermal heat energy use by heat pumps contributed to this growth.

The best practices in 2017 came from Sweden, Finland, Latvia and Estonia, where more than half of the total energy used for heating and cooling came from renewable energy sources. The lowest shares were estimeted in Netherlands, Ireland and United Kindgdom.

Interested in amounts of renewables sources in heating and cooling in your country? Check out Eurostat statistics platform here.

EED and RED II directives

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2030 framework targets and future steps

Energy for heating/cooling from renewable sources

EED and RED II directives

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