EU on track to meeting 20% renewable energy target

In 2013, Bulgaria has already exceeded its renewable energy sources target share of 16% for 2020 by three percentage points, while in the rest of European Union’s southeast, Cyprus is the furthest behind schedule, having achieved 8.1%, compared to its target of a 13% share, a new report shows.

EU countries are well on the way to meeting the EU’s target for 20% renewable energy in the overall energy supply by 2020. European Commission’s report reveals that 25 member states were expected to meet their 2013/2014 interim renewable energy targets. Last year’s projected share of renewables in gross final energy consumption was 15.3%. The bloc’s target was broken down into national objectives, which takes account of each country’s potential. But objectives are not legally enforceable – something green campaigners say is a weak spot in the EU’s policy on renewables, EurActiv.com reports.

Looking at EU member states in our region, Greece also stands out, with its renewables having reached 15% in 2013, compared to the 10.2% trajectory for 2013/2014. The country’s target set for 2020 is 18%. Bulgaria’s trajectory for 2013/2014 was 11.4%, and having beat that by 7.4 percentage points ranks it third in the EU in the category, with Sweden and Italy in the lead. Croatia and Slovenia exceeded their interim trajectory, but still needed to make an effort to reach their 2020 targets of 20% and 25% respectively, while in 2013 Romania was only one tenth of a percentage point behind its goal of 24%.

“We have three times more renewable power per capita in Europe than anywhere else in the rest of the world. We have more than one million people working in a renewable energy sector worth over EUR 130 billion a year and we export EUR 35 billion worth of renewables every year,” said Miguel Arias Cañete, commissioner for climate action and energy. However, as the trajectory in the Renewable Energy Directive becomes steeper closer to 2020 and regulatory uncertainty and administrative barriers continue to impact private investment in the sector, additional measures might be needed for a number of member states, the report states.