EU Could Raise 2030 Renewable Energy Target to 35%

Environment Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have proposed that the share of renewable energy in the European Union’s gross final consumption of energy should be at least 35% by 2030.

The approved legislative text, voted on 23 October, is part of the ongoing reform of the renewable energy directive, a central piece of the EU energy and climate change policy, which had already set a 20% target for 2020 back in 2009, with individual targets for each EU country.

The European Commission proposed to prolong the scheme until 2030, raising the target to at least 27%, albeit as an EU-wide target. MEPs propose to reintroduce mandatory national targets to reach an EU 35% goal.

The report was adopted by 32 votes to 29, with 4 abstentions. The Committee on Industry, which has the lead competence on the file, will vote on 28 November.

The recast directive would be aligned to related legislation on governance of the energy union and electricity market design, also proposed as part of the clean energy package.