The recast Renewable Energy Directive (REDII) became EU law in December 2018, and will be in effect from January 2020.
The REDII sets a target of 32% renewable energy by 2030 at the European level. This forgoes the national binding target that are the rule until 2020. The targets are replaced by a governance system defined in a parallel regulation.
The Renewable Directive defines a framework for supporting renewable energy project, where financing should be provided as a premium on top of market price, and where Member States can choose to support specific technologies according to certain criteria (notably the need for diversification and to allow technologies with unachieved potential to emerge). In addition, the text allows the provision of specific support small-scale projects and to those for demonstrating innovative renewable technologies. It also prevents retroactive changes to a support schemes and requires that upcoming support scheme changes are announced at least 3 years in advance.
The provisions on support schemes are suitable to allow Member States to pursue the development of their national geothermal resources. A major new policy in this Directive is the addition of a provision on renewables in heating and cooling. Such provisions can serve as a further incentive to tap into the European geothermal energy potential:
– A national objective to increase by 1.3 percentage point annually the share of RES in the energy supplied for heating and cooling;
– Local and regional administrative bodies must include renewable heating and cooling in the planning of city infrastructure;
– Member States must provide adequate information to consumers regarding the renewable alternatives for heating and cooling.
In addition, the Renewable Energy Directive introduces a more streamlined permitting process with a single administrative contact point, and a 2-year delay for a final answer on the procedure (not including environmental impact assessment and other such procedures).
Finally, with a less direct impact on the geothermal sector, the REDII introduces some other measures which include:
– Framework for the renewable self-consumers;
– Affirmation of the role of renewable energy communities;
– Promotion of the development of corporate PPAs…
EGEC has been active in promoting an ambitious Renewable Energy Directive fit for the development of Europe’s geothermal potential.
RES-HC association reactio to the agreement on the RES directive
Renewables associations reaction to the 32% RES target to 2030
Policy paper: modelling of the heating and cooling sector in the Clean energy package
Joint RES-HC position ahead of the RED trialogue
Joint industry call on renewable heating
EGEC reaction to the vote on the RED
REDII: Factsheet on Waste heat
REDII: Factsheet on RES in buildings
REDII: Factsheet on RES in heating and cooling
Renewable heat sources: the best available solutions to decarbonise the heat sector
EGEC public consultation response – Renewable Energy Directive
For more of EGEC’s position on this topic and on others, go to the Position papers section of the website
BE SOCIAL & SHARE