EU adopts new Renewable Energy Directive with 42.5% by 2030 target

The EU Council on Monday adopted the new Renewables Energy Directive to increase the share of renewable energy in the EU’s energy consumption to 42.5% by 2030, with an ambition of 45%.

In addition, the EU Council adopted the RefuelEU aviation initiative to decarbonise the aviation sector.

The steps mean the EU now has legally binding climate targets covering all key sectors of the economy, the European Commission said. The EU regulator hailed the adoption of two final pillars of its “Fit for 55” legislative package, which was introduced in July 2021 to achieve the European Climate Law objective of reducing greenhouse emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

“The legislation to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 is now in place, and I am very happy that we are even on track to overshoot this ambition,” stated Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The revised Renewable Energy Directive boosts the EU's binding renewable energy target for 2030 to at least 42.5% from the current target of 32%. This is expected to almost double the existing share of renewable energy in the bloc. The directive will now be published in the EU’s Official Journal and enter into force 20 days thereafter.

The Commission said that the implementation of the “Fit for 55” legislation is now commencing in the member states. As the countries finalise their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), they should incorporate this new legislation and show how the 2030 climate and energy targets will be achieved at a national scale.

The EU Parliament approved the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive in September.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!