Renewables

EU mulls higher renewables target for 2030 to speed up shift from Russian fossil fuels

brussels-eu-shift-russian-fossil-fuels-renewables

Photo: NakNakNak on Pixabay

Published

April 21, 2022

Country

Comments

comments icon

0

Share

Published:

April 21, 2022

Country:

Comments:

comments icon

0

Share

The European Commission is analyzing whether the European Union (EU) should set an even higher 2030 target for the share of renewables in the overall energy mix, as part of efforts to speed up the bloc’s shift from Russian fossil fuels. Last year the commission proposed lifting the existing 32% target to 40%, and is now considering raising it to 45%.

In May, the commission is due to unveil a plan to shift from imports of fossil fuels from Russia, the EU’s biggest supplier of natural gas. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the EU should abandon Russian fossil fuel imports entirely by 2027.

The EU’s plan to end reliance on Russian fossil fuels will include rules to remove permitting barriers for renewable energy projects

The plan will include a legislative proposal to facilitate permitting for renewable energy projects, according to Mechthild Wörsdörfer, the commission’s deputy director general in charge of the just and green energy transition, Reuters reported.

Von der Leyen said earlier that the speed at which the EU will achieve energy independence will depend on the pace of its switch to renewables and hydrogen, combined with more energy efficiency.

A 45% renewables target is supported by renewable industry associations

The initiative to set a 45% renewables goal, according to reports, has received support from renewable industry associations, including SolarPower Europe, one of the signatories of an open letter urging the EU to facilitate energy storage development alongside renewables and hydrogen.

The commission’s REPowerEU plan to end the EU’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels includes cutting natural gas consumption, speeding up the roll-out of renewable gases, and increasing electricity generation from renewables, but it also envisages more nuclear energy and coal.

Comments (0)

Be the first one to comment on this article.

Enter Your Comment
Please wait... Please fill in the required fields. There seems to be an error, please refresh the page and try again. Your comment has been sent.

Related Articles

Hidroelectrica contractor PV systems 20 hydropower plants

Hidroelectrica picks contractor for PV systems on 20 hydropower plants

16 May 2025 - Hidroelectrica hired Servelect and subcontractor Electroplus to install solar panels on the roofs of 20 hydropower plants on the Olt river

Zivkovic EPS BEF 2025 Weakness in Serbian energy system is no option

Weakness in Serbian energy system is no option

16 May 2025 - Serbia's EPS is committed to green targets, but it won't compromise energy security, CEO Dušan Živković said at BEF 2025

bih belgrade energy forum 2025 bef mirza kusljugic batteries

BiH laying groundwork for battery energy storage systems

15 May 2025 - The State Electricity Regulatory Commission is drafting a decision on BESS, Mirza Kušljugić said at Belgrade Energy Forum 2025

North Macedonia Law on Energy

North Macedonia adopts Law on Energy

15 May 2025 - With a majority of votes, 62 out of 120, the Assembly of North Macedonia adopted the Law on Energy, aligning the legal framework with the EU