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RENEWABLE ENERGY

 
CAN Europe is committed to supporting and promoting renewables as the main source
of energy for European society.

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Energy ministers endorse Europe's renewable future

CAN Europe welcomes Energy Ministers' call for a long-term, stable framework for renewable energy in the EU after 2020. At today's Energy Council, ministers recognized that a coherent set of policies that ensures a higher share of renewables would help unlock the full economic, social and environmental benefits these technologies can bring.

"This decision represents a good step on the path that must be traveled toward the EU's goal of cost-effectively decarbonizing its energy sector," said Daniel Fraile, CAN Europe Senior Policy Officer. "We already have agreement on the need for policies that incentivize higher use of renewables. Now we need to define them so that investors keep backing these technologies. Setting a 2030 binding target should be the next task."

The European Commission now has the clear mandate it needs to begin preparing an ambitious proposal for climate and energy policy after 2020, when the EU's current targets will end. CAN Europe is calling for a coherent set of binding 2030 targets for renewable energy, greenhouse gases AND energy savings.

2030 renewable energy targets are crucial for Europe's future

NZ-Wind-Turbines Dave Clark

Today EU Energy Ministers moved forward important and strategic discussions related to Europe's clean and sustainable energy future. But without clarity on long-term targets for 2030 and beyond, this rosy future is not guaranteed.

"CAN-Europe is very glad to see Ministers' recognition of the key role that renewable energies will play in the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable energy future," said Daniel Fraile, CAN Europe Senior Policy Officer. "We now need to see ambitious targets put in place for 2030 and beyond."


Investors, grid operators and renewables industries need an explicit message that after 2020, the EU will continue to rely on renewables to achieve its decarbonisation goals and boost economic growth. To reach 2030 targets, the EU should invest in researching the real potential of alternative sources of heating and cooling, such as geothermal, solar thermal and sustainable bioenergy.

"Europe's continued investment into renewables will ensure that the jobs of the future are not sent overseas," Fraile concluded. "We urge Ministers to propose ambitious binding 2030 targets for renewables, as part of a broader group of 2030 climate and energy targets that include strengthening currently weak 2020 targets."

Photo credit: Dave Clarke/Flickr

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Contact

Daniel Fraile Montoro
Senior Policy Officer (EU Climate and Energy)
Direct line: +32 2894 4672
daniel /at/ caneurope.org