About: Renewable Energy Directive
Netherlands mulls end to used cooking oil double-counting
An analysis of the “weak” points of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), combined with the results of an ongoing criminal investigation, will determine whether it is possible to end double-counting of used cooking oil (UCO) in energy used in transport, a Dutch spokesperson told EURACTIV.com.
Wind power: What next for Europe?
Europe is the cradle of the wind energy industry and is still rightly perceived as a global leader in the sector. But fresh projects have slowed in recent years, pointing to new challenges for the EU’s wind energy sector in...
Industry source: one third of used cooking oil in Europe is fraudulent
One-third of the used cooking oil (UCO) used in Europe’s biofuels market is more than likely fraudulent, a source from the biofuel industry has told EURACTIV.com and urged Brussels to "think again" about how the entire supply chain is monitored.
Will National Energy and Climate Plans, key to transport decarbonisation, deliver?
The EU is facing another lost decade in transport decarbonisation, a difficult process that requires all available measures. The National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) are key to decarbonising transport in the next decade and delivering on the EU's climate pledges, writes Zoltán Szabó.
Biofuel expert: In Europe, facts don’t win over theories
Europe’s demonstrated preference for ideology over science explains why Europe is both the most vocal climate proponent on the world stage and also the most wasteful and ineffective one, Eric Sievers, director of investments at Ethanol Europe, told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Europe’s transport decarbonisation
The Green Energy Platform, led by the think tank Farm Europe, organised a workshop in Brussels on Wednesday (12 June) to present the results of the ‘2030 Transport Decarbonisation Options’ study, conducted by the consultancy firm Navigant.
EU throws the ball to member states to monitor RED II implementation
The implementation of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) remains to a large extent the responsibility of the member states, EU sources told EURACTIV.com, in light of ongoing fraud investigations into the practice of mixing palm oil with cooking oil (UCO).
With new regulation complete, what’s next for EU biofuels?
After years of political wrangling over how to account for indirect land use change from biofuels in EU legislation, businesses now have the regulatory stability they’ve long been craving.
Commission repeals US anti-dumping duties on ethanol, irritates industry
Following an expiry review, the European Commission has decided to repeal the antidumping measures against imports of bioethanol from the USA. The decision has triggered reactions of the EU ethanol industry, which warns about severe economic and climate implications.
EU official: ‘Renewables could supply almost 80% of heating and cooling by 2050’
Reaching the EU's target of increasing renewable heating and cooling by 1.3% each year will require a diverse array of solutions, says the European Commission's Hans van Steen.
The EU needs a ‘Green New Deal’
Europe needs its own ‘Green New Deal’ to stave off the perfect storm of populism, climate change and economic crisis. Instead, the EU has adopted confused energy and environment policies which could be self-defeating in the long run, writes Vincente Lopez.
Burning trees as climate mitigation: A resort to the Court
There is no debate that burning wood for energy emits more greenhouse gases per unit of energy than burning fossil fuels. Yet the EU's renewable energy directive continues to uphold that burning forest wood is "carbon neutral," write Jean-Pascal van Ypersele and Mary S. Booth.
EU Parliament unwilling to reject Commission’s biofuel criteria
Despite a strong negative reaction from EU farmers and industry, the European Parliament does not seem likely to oppose the Commission's delegated act on sustainability criteria for biofuels.
IRENA chief: Renewable energy is ‘defence policy of the future’
Renewable energy will rewrite the geopolitical map, according to the man tasked with taking clean energy global. Adnan Z. Amin also told EURACTIV that any politicians not worried by the “truly frightening” risks of climate change are not in the right job.
Biofuel sustainability criteria ‘blocked’ in EU Commission
A delegated act determining the sustainability criteria of biofuels under the new renewable energy directive (RED II) has been blocked in the European Commission as some Commissioners found the criteria “too light”, EURACTIV has learnt.
Time is running out for biofuels sustainability criteria
The European Commission’s Directorate-General (DG) of Energy will only give two days to other DGs to express their opinion about its much-awaited proposal on the sustainability criteria of biofuels, which will determine the future of palm oil in Europe.
US ethanol producers: We are oil’s biggest competitor, cleaner too
Increasing ethanol use will help countries around the world meet their Paris Agreement climate goals in a cheaper way, US producers told EURACTIV.com, staking their claim to a higher role for the fuel, alongside electricity, in decarbonising transport.
RED2: what is next for palm oil?
The boom of palm oil in the EU biofuels mixture since 2012 took centre stage in the debate about the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED2).
EU protein strategy: Commission working against Europe’s interest?
The European Commission’s recent report on the future of EU protein strategy is a “missed opportunity” as it ignores domestic biofuels production, the EU ethanol industry has said.
Solar PV sector hails EU deal on small-scale ‘citizen energy’
UPDATE: EU negotiators reached agreement Monday evening (12 November) on a legal framework for “citizen energy communities” in a deal solar PV manufacturers hailed as a victory for small-scale renewable energy production.
Why rewarding renewable fuels under the truck CO2 regulation would be a bad idea
It may sound like a good thing to reward advanced fuels. But doing it under the CO2 standards for heavy duty vehicles (HDVs) would not achieve this goal and would only end up weakening EU fuel efficiency standards, says Cristina Mestre.
How to lower electricity prices in Europe
One important key to lowering electricity prices in the short-term are the grid utility fees. And digital solutions offer the most significant leverage to bring them down, writes Christian Chuboda.
Danish MEP: ‘Fight continues’ for renewable energy in Europe
The 32% renewable energy objective for 2030 agreed at the EU level in June was a good result, says Jeppe Kofod, but it’s still insufficient to live up to the Paris accord, he told EURACTIV in an interview, setting out the agenda for clean energy battles in the years ahead.