An important step forward for clean energy within the European Union, with the development of renewables and energy efficiency. It will be easier for citizens to produce and consume the energy they generate. The position on biomass and biofuels is not ambitious enough.
35 seems to be the magic number for energy. The European Parliament, meeting yesterday in plenary session, voted to raise the target for energy efficiency to 35 per cent. The renewable share of total energy consumption must also reach 35 per cent, while the share of energy from renewable sources in transport is set at 12 per cent. The targets must be met by 2030. The Strasbourg MEPs also reached an agreement on banning palm oil in biofuels from 2021. Parliament also managed to strengthen the right to self-consumption and to provide greater certainty for investors. The transport sector will also have to push for decarbonisation.
"The European Parliament has taken a historic position, in line and consistent with the EU's climate commitments. This policy will help develop genuine energy independence, create jobs and ensure secure investments. As well as being consistent, the governance proposal provides a platform for dialogue between civil society, local authorities and governments. This transparency will be necessary to confront the lobbying by energy oligopolies. One interest must prevail above all others: the future of the planet and its inhabitants!", commented Michele Rivasi (Greens/EFA, FR), Parliament's co-rapporteur on the governance file.
By 2030, the share of renewable energy must equal 35 per cent of EU energy consumption. Individual countries will then be required to set their own national targets, from which they may deviate, under certain conditions, by up to a maximum of 10 per cent. The resolution was adopted with 492 votes in favour, 88 against and 107 abstentions.
"The European Commission was too timid in its proposal. If Europe wants to honour its Paris commitments, fight climate change and lead the energy transition, we need to do more. Parliament has been able to reach a broad consensus in favour of significantly higher targets for 2030. Decarbonisation is not a brake on economic growth. On the contrary, it is the engine of competitiveness, economic activity and employment," commented Jose Blanco Lopez, rapporteur on renewables.
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In a separate resolution, Parliament voted in favour of a binding minimum target of 35 per cent energy efficiency defined on the basis of projected energy consumption for 2030 and of indicative national targets. The measure was adopted with 485 votes in favour, 132 against and 58 abstentions.
The European Commissioner for Climate and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, commented positively on the vote in a tweet: "Great day for clean energy in Europe, the European Parliament has shown that you can do business with the energy transition and with the commitments made by Europe to honour the Paris Agreement.
Trilogue negotiations on the energy measures between the Council, Parliament and the Commission will begin in the coming months. Arias Cañete made it known that he is ready for a trilogue, acknowledging that it will not be easy, although the European Commission will do its utmost to facilitate an ambitious agreement. "Parliament will show a united front when it enters into negotiations with the European Council," said Claude Turmes (Greens/EFA, LU).
Self-consumption as a tool for increasing the share of renewables and energy autonomy. The European Parliament aims to ensure that consumers who generate electricity in their buildings (self-consumption) have the right to consume it and to install storage systems without having to pay charges, fees or taxes. MEPs therefore call on member states to assess existing barriers to the self-consumption of energy produced in consumers' territories, to promote such consumption and to ensure that consumers, in particular households, can join renewable energy communities without being subject to unjustified conditions or procedures.
"Raising the overall target to 35 per cent of energy demand covered by renewables is the clearest sign of this decisive step towards the decarbonisation of Europe. Other significant decisions were also taken, including the possibility for plant owners, energy consumers and prosumers (owners and consumers at the same time) to form consortia to share investments and the use of the energy produced. Furthermore, energy from photovoltaics will not be burdened by taxes, charges or fees, and the sale of such energy to aggregators and through purchase agreements (the so-called Power Purchase Agreements) will be permitted," commented Paolo Rocco Viscontini, president of Italia Solare.
By 2030, each member state must ensure that 12 per cent of the energy consumed in transport comes from renewable sources. The contribution of "first-generation" biofuels — those produced using food and feed crops — must be capped at 2017 levels, with a maximum of 7 per cent for road and rail transport. From 2021, the use of palm oil will then be banned.
In general, the share of advanced biofuels, renewable fuels of non-biological origin, fossil-based waste fuels and renewable electricity must amount to at least 1.5 per cent in 2021, rising to 10 per cent by 2030.
"Parliament rightly recognised that the EU needs to increase its share of renewables if it wants to honour its climate commitments, but it should have kept the focus on real solutions, rather than false ones such as biofuels," commented Sebastian Mang of Greenpeace EU.
Good news, however, for electric vehicle charging stations. By 2022, 90 per cent of refuelling stations along the roads of trans-European networks must be equipped with high-power charging points for electric vehicles.
The EU Parliament also called for support schemes for renewables derived from biomass to be designed in such a way as not to encourage the inappropriate use of biomass, since the carbon captured in wood would be released if it were burned for heating. With regard to energy production, priority must therefore be given to the combustion of wood waste and residues.
"The European Parliament, according to a Greenpeace statement, continues to support the ongoing use of biofuels in the EU. The Parliament's proposal, for example, would allow member states to burn whole trees, felled for use as an energy source, and meet renewable energy targets. This despite scientists agreeing that it would increase emissions for decades, contributing significantly to forest degradation."
The WWF also expressed criticism on the biomass issue: "MEPs have shown that having high ambitions is possible and crucial. The European Parliament must now hold firm in the upcoming negotiations with the EU Council. Unfortunately, this ambition was not echoed in the vote on renewables. The result was a victory for the fossil fuel and biomass industries and a slap in the face for citizens, the climate and forests," said Imke Lübbeke, Head of Climate and Energy at the WWF European Policy Office.