Bold policies needed on Regional Renewables Cooperation
New Study Shows Way Forward For Regional Cooperation in EU 2030 Renewables Framework
Brussels – 15 September 2015. Today, Member States’ experts in the Council’s Energy Working Group start discussing how the EU can reach its binding target of at least 27% renewables in the EU energy mix by 2030. The Ecofys report ‘Driving regional cooperation forward in the 2030 renewable energy framework’, published today by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, explores the role of regional cooperation to reach or even exceed the target of at least 27% renewables by 2030.
Regional cooperation is for the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers one of the most important priorities. On 26 November, the EU’s Energy Ministers will adopt conclusions on climate and energy governance for the next decade. As discussions on the topic take off, Klaus Linsenmeier, Director of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union (hbs), a political foundation affiliated to the German Green Party, states: “The EU needs to take decisive steps on regional renewables cooperation in the Energy Union. This is a critical moment for future renewable energy deployment in the EU.”
“Regional cooperation is currently a buzzword in the debate on future governance in the Energy Union,” adds Corinna Klessmann, Principal Consultant at Ecofys. “Our report analyses what types of regional cooperation could be implemented in the field of renewable energy in practice. We explore for instance the pros and cons of a regional peer-review process and of regional binding renewable energy targets, two options which have been recently evoked in the political discussions on the 2030 governance.”
“While multiple formats of regional cooperation already exist, innovate policy options are needed to effectively bridge the gap between national renewables policies and a Europeanised approach to renewables deployment,” says Silvia Brugger, hbs Climate and Energy Programme Director. Emphasising the need for robust and binding legal frameworks, Brugger comments that: “A light-touch and non-legislative approach, as proposed by the UK and Central and Eastern European Member States, puts the idea of the Energy Union at risk. Rather than granting maximum flexibility to Member States, the 2030 governance should contain mandatory provisions to ensure that all countries will meet the renewables target and fully exploit the potential of regional cooperation.”
According to Kathrin Glastra, hbs Liaison Energy Transition Western Europe, “Regional cooperation can strengthen the renewable energy framework. But it might also weaken it if responsibilities are not clearly distributed between the European Commission, Member States and regions.” She adds, “Our report’s recommendations will be a valuable contribution to reach the 2030 renewables target in a cost-effective way, which we hope will be considered by EU decision-makers.”
The report will be officially launched at a panel discussion on 1 October 2015. Please find the agenda and registration details here.
PUBLICATIONS:
hbs/Ecofys publication “Driving Regional Cooperation Forward in the 2030 Renewable Energy Framework” In particular, the report discusses with a view to the 2030 framework: regional cooperation in policy planning; joint regional projects and support schemes; regional renewable energy targets; regional renewables target monitoring; regional cooperation at a subnational level; and incentives for regional cooperation.
hbs/IES publication “EU Governance of Renewable Energy Post-2020 – Risks and Options”
hbs publication “Renewables: The Only Path to a Secure, Affordable and Climate-friendly Energy System by 2030”