Page 41 - European Energy Innovation - autumn 2018 publication

Autumn 2018 European Energy Innovation
civil society to become more involved
in the energy system and respond to
price signals.
A recent report1 estimates the
number of energy citizens that
exist today, as well as how many
could exist by 2030 and by 2050, in
individual EU Member States and
in the EU as a whole. This is the
estimation of the potential number
of energy citizens, providing the right of annual increase; the target for
legislation is in place.
It shows that over 264 million
European Union citizens, half of the
EU population, could be producing
their own electricity by 2050. These
energy citizens could be producing
611 TWh of electricity by 2030 and
1,557 TWh by 2050. Therefore, by
2030, energy citizens could be
delivering 19% of the EU’s electricity
demand, and 45% by 2050. This is a
significant contribution to achieving
the EU’s 2030 renewable energy
target and moving towards a 100%
renewable energy system.
Citizens provide additional investment
and activities for the implementation
of renewable energy projects. These
activities contribute to local jobs and In addition, a sub-target for advanced
local wealth creation as money for
energy stays within the community
(instead of paying for energy imports). foresees a phase out of palm oil
Their projects contribute to the
reduction of energy poverty and
to the increase of energy security
as neither import nor transport is
required. The democratisation of the
energy system leads to an increased
social acceptance for renewables and
to an increased energy consciousness
resulting in decreased energy
consumption.
Another important part of the
Directive relates to support schemes
and the organisation of tenders for
renewable energy installations. In
this recast, Member States keep the
right to apply technology specific
1 CE Delft, 2016. The Potential for Energy Citizens in the European Union, available at bit.ly/energycitizenstudy
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
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RENEWABLE ENERGY FRAMEWORK
tenders and provide for alternative their collective obligations under
competitive bidding procedures or the Renewable Energy Directive. In
exemptions. In addition, retroactive addition, the Governance Regulation
changes to existing support schemes enshrines the concept of "carbon
will be prohibited from 2021 on. This budget" in European law together
is paramount to secure investor’s with the need to achieve at EU level a
confidence in renewable energy net-zero carbon economy in the next
projects. couple of decades. It encourages
Member States to joint renewable
The renewable heating and cooling energy development and strategic
has an indicative target of 1.3 pp planning.
renewables in the transport sector Negotiations on the so-called
has been set for 14% by 2030. It gives Winter Package might be finalised
encouragement for consumers to by the end of 2018 ending with
stay out of the mineral oil equation. legislation development for a new
In addition, a sub-target for advanced EU electricity market design. The
biofuels of 3.5% by 2030 is also part main challenge within this current
of the Directive. The new Directive Trilogue negotiation will be to be
foresees a phase out of palm oil coherent with or even enhance the
from biofuels by 2030, starting provisions of the new Renewable
with a freeze on existing quantities Energy Directive and Governance
of imported palm by 2020. It also Regulation. Yet, the EU needs to
includes a freeze on so-called first become still more ambitious to fulfil
generation biofuels such as ethanol its commitments under the Paris
with an identical deadline. Agreement. l
For the transport sector, a target of
14% of renewable energy by 2030
was set. It gives only moderate
encouragement for consumers to
stay out of the mineral oil equation.
biofuels of 3.5% by 2030 is also part
of the directive. The new Directive
from biofuels by 2030, starting
with a freeze on existing quantities
of imported palm by 2020. It also
includes a freeze on so-called first
generation biofuels such as ethanol
with an identical deadline.
The new Governance Regulation
complements the Renewable Energy
Directive providing a framework
and roadmap for the development
of renewables throughout the EU
and the EU contribution to the Paris
Agreement’s objectives. Notably, it
requires Member States to provide
national action plans which lay
out their individual paths to meet