At the Commission’s request, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has carried out an assessment of the renewable energy prospects of the European Union to 2030 to support the discussion on whether the European Union can meet more ambitious energy targets proposed by the European Parliament.

In 2014, the European Council set the EU target of at least 27% share of renewable energy in the final energy consumption in the EU by 2030. The binding target of 27% was consequently adopted by the Commission in its proposal for a recast of the Directive on the promotion of renewable energy sources, as part of the Clean Energy for all Europeans package (November 2016). The binding target 27% was confirmed by the Energy Council on 18 December 2017, prior to trialogue negotiations with the European Parliament and the Commission.

However, the European Parliament has taken more ambitious stance. In November 2017, the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy recommended that by 2030 a minimum of 35% of all energy consumed in the European Union should come from renewables. José Blanco López, the ITRE rapporteur[1], said: 

“Europe needs to do more, Europe needs more ambition in renewables to meet the Paris commitments, combat climate change and lead the energy transition.”

A new study by IRENA, commissioned by the European Commission, analysed cost-effectiveness of various renewable options that would allow EU member states to meet and potentially exceed the climate targets proposed by the EU taking into consideration respective capabilities of EU member states, in light of different national circumstances.

The IRENA concludes that renewables are vital for long-term decarbonisation of the EU energy system and all EU countries have cost-effective potential to use more renewables. Thus, EU could cost effectively double the renewable share in its energy mix from 17% in 2015 to 34% in 2030. In addition, potential to reach 34% is shown to be realisable with today’s technologies and cost-effective even before considering the significant economic value of the associated health and environmental benefits.

As regards the broader socio-economic impacts such as health and environmental benefits, the IRENA’s study found that higher shares of renewable energy will lead to total savings between EUR 45 – 114 billion by 2030.

The gLAWcal Team

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[1] Cleaner energy: new binding targets for energy efficiency and use of renewables. European Parliament. Available: < http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20171128IPR89009/cleaner-energy-new-binding-targets-for-energy-efficiency-and-use-of-renewables>.