Est. 2min 10-12-2007 (updated: 28-05-2012 ) wind_turbines2_isp.jpg Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram An early draft of an upcoming Commission proposal to increase the use of renewables in final EU energy consumption includes guidelines for establishing individual national targets, provisions for mandatory use of certificates for renewables trading and sustainability criteria for biofuels production. Gradual increase While the draft directive, made available by Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE), does not specify the precise percentage figures by which each member state will be required to increase its share of renewable energies, the following criteria are put forward: By 2014, each member state’s share of renewables must be at least the amount it used in 2005 plus 51% of the 2020 target; by 2016, the figure must increase to 66% of the 2020 target; and; by 2018, member states should have achieved 83% of their 2020 target (compared to the 2005 level as usual). For transport, member states should have achieved a 6.5% share of renewables by 2012. Within the overall renewables and transport targets, member states must also set their own binding national targets for renewables use in heating and cooling, according to the draft. Member states will also be responsible for issuing ‘guarantees of origin’ (GOs) to producers of heat and/or electricity from renewable energy sources. The GOs provide the Commission with a means of quantifying member states’ progress towards their renewables targets. Mandatory trading The text contains a mechanism whereby member states are able, and even obliged, to obtain sufficient GOs by purchasing them from other member states. If an EU country fails to reach its interim targets by 2014, 2016 or 2018, “the Commission may decide that such a member state must allow transfer from another member state of [GOs] issued to new entrants in other member states”, the draft says. The same member state must also “give the right to new entrants in other member states to benefit from its renewables support schemes in the same way as domestic producers of renewable energy”. Member states are allowed to refuse access to their domestic support schemes to new entrants in other member states if the new entrant “currently benefits, or has previously benefited, from a financial support system such as feed-in-tariffs”, according to the draft. Read more with Euractiv EU gets mixed scores on energy efficiency While Europe's appliance manufacturers are pushing for a numerical energy performance label and mandatory phase-outs of inefficient machines, EU member states are severely behind in implementing energy efficiency legislation, particularly in the buildings sector. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters PositionsDörte Fouquet of the European Renewable Energy Federation (EREF) argues that imposing EU-wide trading in renewables certificates is "the worst option the Commission could invent". The move "will result in Europe losing its capacity" for rapid renewables uptake, she said. Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE) strongly criticised the "limited" biofuels sustainability criteria put forward in the draft, arguing that threats to certain ecosystems and biodiversity are ignored. The group also laments that rising food prices are not addressed and that the text "prevents EU member states from introducing stronger criteria at a national level". FoEE is particularly concerned that the text contains no provisions for preventing deforestation and the loss of farmers' lands. The draft "provides no criteria to protect people in developing countries from the negative impacts of agrofuel production", the group said in a press statement. APAG, a group representing the European oleochemicals industry, warned that the EU’s renewable energy policy was creating a shortage of raw materials in sectors which use animal and vegetable fats for manufacturing products ranging from soap to paint. "Animal and vegetable oils and fats are a key renewable feedstock for the European oleochemical industry where they are used as raw materials for detergents, soaps, lubricants, paints, surface coatings, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as well as additives for plastics, rubber and textiles," the group said. According to APAG, the EU’s renewable energy policy is posing "a significant threat to the availability of our raw materials which are now being burned to generate subsidised energy or used for biofuels," causing "growing concern" within industry. APAG said a possible solution could be to "exclude natural fats and vegetable oils from the definition of biomass or to abolish the tax incentives given for the use of animal fats in the generation of heat, energy and transport fuels". BackgroundEuropean leaders signed up in March 2007 to a binding EU-wide target to source 20% of their energy needs from renewables such as biomass, hydro, wind and solar power by 2020. A commitment to achieving a 10% share of biofuels in transport by 2020 was also agreed, under the condition that certain sustainability criteria are respected, that 'second generation' biofuels become commercially viable in time, and that existing fuel quality laws are updated to allow for more blending of standard fuels with biofuels. Timeline 23 Jan. 2008: Commission to propose new renewables framework directive. Further ReadingBusiness & Industry European Renewable Energy Federation (EREF):Homepage with editorial on Commission's renewables plans European Oleochemicals and Allied Products Group (APAG):The European oleochemical industry asks to reconsider EU renewables policy(11 Dec. 2007) NGOs and Think-Tanks Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE):New draft law exposes weak EU standards for agrofuels(07 December) Text of draft directive Press articles Euractiv.tr:AB yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklari yasasi biçimleniyor
