About: clean energy package
Energy efficiency: Getting the full picture
The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), adopted in 2012 and currently under review, has been a key milestone to help deliver energy savings in Europe. But the reality is that we are not there yet in terms of primary energy savings, writes Hans Korteweg.
Energy transition goals lack ambition, local projects lead the way, study suggests
Energy transition in Europe is proceeding too slowly and Brussels is lacking ambition to fulfil the requirements of the Paris Agreement – those are the conclusions of the recently published "Energy Atlas" of the German Heinrich-Böll-Foundation. EURACTIV Germany reports.
New climate strategy will set out a pathway to meet higher targets
Last week, EU leaders sent a clear message to the European Commission to ramp up its work to implement the Paris Agreement and accelerate the ongoing transition away from fossil fuels, writes Wendel Trio.
Joint call for European ‘industrial leadership’ on renewables
A coalition of industries ranging from solar to geothermal and biomass has called on the incoming Austrian Presidency of the EU to support a target of “at least 35%” for renewable energies by 2030, saying it will provide a stable environment for investors.
Breaking the glass ceiling of EU climate policy
The request from EU leaders to see an update of the European Commission's 2050 low-carbon roadmap mandates a higher level of ambition from Europe on meeting climate goals also in 2030, writes Brook Riley.
Norway accepts EU energy rules, avoids dispute with Brussels
Norway's parliament approved the adoption of European Union energy rules on Thursday (22 March), over the objections of some centre-left parties, allowing the EU outsider to remain a full member of EU markets, the leader of the parliament said after the vote.
Fresh EU analysis makes case for higher renewables, energy saving goals
A new analysis by the European Commission’s energy directorate, seen by EURACTIV, updates existing scenarios for renewables and energy efficiency, taking into account the rapidly falling costs of solar and wind power.
Report: Green businesses double performance of fossil fuel peers
Clean energy investments have almost doubled the performance of fossil fuel energy stocks over the past year and a half, new figures have revealed. EURACTIV’s partner edie.net reports.
Brussels muddies waters on state aid for coal power
A European Commission decision on Wednesday (7 February) to approve state aid for emergency power plants – often gas or coal-fired – has been accused of complicating ongoing negotiations in the European Parliament.
EU lawmakers agree ‘flexible’ renewable energy targets for 2030
Political groups in the European Parliament have sealed an agreement Tuesday evening (16 January) on a proposed Energy Union governance bill, assigning a strict yet flexible timeline for EU countries to meet the bloc’s 2030 objectives on renewable energy, EURACTIV has learnt.
EU warned about ‘lost decade’ for renewables as costs continue to fall
The cost of generating electricity from renewable energies is set to reach new lows worldwide, according to projections by the International Renewable Energy Association (IRENA), published on Saturday (13 January).
People power? EU gets low marks on ‘energy communities’
When the European Commission tabled its Winter Package of clean energy laws in November 2016, there was a smell of revolution in the air, with Brussels pitching a future where citizens would be empowered to generate their own electricity, consume it locally and sell it back to the grid.
EU governments are self-sabotaging the clean energy drive
On Monday (18 December), the 28 European energy ministers will risk making the transition to a low carbon economy harder for themselves and more expensive for all of us, because of their self-sabotaging tendencies, warns Manon Dufour.
Corporate giants urge EU to back 35% renewables target
A coalition comprising some of the world’s biggest companies has urged EU energy ministers to back a 35% target for renewable energy when they meet in Brussels next Monday (18 December).
Energy Union vote opens EU Parliament rift
A partisan divide has emerged in the European Parliament over proposals to beef up the governance of the Energy Union, with conservative and centre-right lawmakers rejecting what they described as an “outdated”, “inflexible” approach supported by the Greens and left-wing parties.
Can energy governance replace binding targets?
Lawmakers will vote on Thursday (7 December) on a new energy regime that is meant to ensure the European Union meets its Paris Agreement goals. But much disagreement remains.
EU’s car emission goals for 2030 stir up ‘tech neutrality’ debate
The European Commission’s latest proposal on car's CO2 emissions for 2030 has started a fresh debate about whether Brussels has actually dropped its long-standing “technological neutrality” stance in favour of electric cars.
Member states’ answer to low renewables ambition: Interim targets
The European Parliament says the EU’s proposed 2030 target for renewable energy needs to be raised in order to speed up deployment early in the next decade. But EU member states have a different idea.
Engie boss: ‘Phasing-out coal, as quickly as possible’
Isabelle Kocher, the CEO of Engie, wants to "accelerate" the energy transition. After the COP23 in Bonn, she warns that Europe is "running out of time" and supports both "very high and mandatory" targets for energy savings, and for a carbon price floor.
‘Near total’ renewable energy system within reach: Lord Adair Turner
Prices of green electricity and batteries have fallen so sharply that even projections for an 85-90% renewables energy system in 2035 now look “ludicrously conservative”, Lord Adair Turner said while on a visit to Brussels.
Rise of cheap renewables disrupts EU energy plans for 2030
The rapid fall in costs of wind and solar power, combined with flexible demand technology, could replace “more than half” of coal and gas-powered electricity in Europe by 2030, according to new research published on Tuesday (21 November).
Corporate PPAs: A game changer for clean energy
Companies like Google, Norsk Hydro and Facebook are increasingly turning to corporate renewable Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) as a secure, reliable and competitive source of power from clean energy sources, writes Malgosia Bartosik.
The future of network regulation: Let’s pay consumers to support the grid
The very fabric of modern economies and the challenge to ensure that our energy systems evolve to provide reliable, affordable, clean energy for us, our children, and grandchildren is at stake in Europe this year, explains Edith Bayer.