Delivering the European Green Deal: Commission consults on review of renewable energy and energy efficiency directives

The Commission has taken the first steps in the review process of the Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive, by inviting citizens and stakeholders to comment on two Roadmaps. The review of both Directives will be essential to identify how energy policies on renewables and energy efficiency will contribute in achieving the climate and environmental ambitions of the European Green Deal. The reviews are part of a broader process based on the upcoming adoption of the Climate Target Plan. Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, said: “To deliver on the ambition of the European Green Deal, we have started assessing the impact of more ambitious 2030 climate objectives and different scenarios to get there. It is clear that every path to climate neutrality requires scaling up and accelerating the production of renewable energy, and reinforcing our action on energy efficiency.

We have to consider all the tools we have to make that happen. The present roadmaps are the beginning of a process that will guide our future action set for June 2021.” The Roadmap on the Renewable Energy Directive will assess whether the EU renewable energy target of at least 32% for 2030 should be raised and whether other parts of the Directive require an adjustment in line with the Green Deal, including the Biodiversity Strategy. The Roadmap on the Energy Efficiency Directive will evaluate the adequacy of the rules in place to deliver the existing energy efficiency target of at least 32.5% for 2030. These two Roadmaps are open to responses until 21 September. The next phase in the review of these Directives will be an open public consultation later this year.