The Commission Communication of 10 January 2007 entitled "Renewable Energy Roadmap – Renewable energies in the 21st century: building a more sustainable future" http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/background_documents_en.htm sets a 20 % target for the overall share of energy from renewable sources and a 10 % target for energy from renewable sources in transport would be appropriate and achievable objectives, and that a framework that includes mandatory targets should provide the business community with the long-term stability it needs to make rational, sustainable investments in the renewable energy sector which are capable of reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and boosting the use of new energy technologies. The "Renewable Energy Road Map" (European Commission, 2007)[1] Key issues Renewable Energy Road Map:
The chart below shows the European Commission’s estimates of renewable electricity production and where it thinks the growth is going to come from if the electricity demands are going to be met from renewable sources. The biggest areas for growth will come from onshore and offshore wind and solid biomass.
Those targets exist in the context of the 20 % improvement in energy efficiency by 2020 set out in the Commission Communication of Oct. 19, 2006 entitled "Action Plan for Energy Efficiency: Realising the Potential" http://ec.europa.eu/energy/action_plan_energy_efficiency/doc/com_2006_0545_en.pdf, which was endorsed by the European Council of March 2007, and by the European Parliament in its resolution of Jan. 31, 2008 on that Action Plan http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-0033.
The Green Paper "A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy" http://ec.europa.eu/energy/green-paper-energy/doc/2006_03_08_gp_document_en.pdf recommended a European Strategic Energy Technology Plan that aims at moving Europe towards a low carbon energy system. In December 2006, the European Parliament voted on the issue of renewables targets. It adopted, a 25% overall renewable energy target and a sector target for renewable electricity of 35% by 2020 (including hydro). Wind could contribute 12% of EU electricity by 2020. One third of this is expected to come from offshore installations.
Research by Kevine Lidoro
