The European Commission has released the progress report on 2020 renewable energy targets showing that the EU is on track to meet its 20 percent renewable energy goals.
With a projected share of 15.3 percent of renewable energy in 2014 in the gross final energy consumption, the EU and the vast majority of Member States are advancing well: 25 Member States are expected to meet their 2013/2014 national targets, European Commission’s press release reads.
These results are published in the European Commission’s 2015 report on progress made in achieving the EU’s legally binding target for a 20 percent share of renewable energy, the 10 percent target for renewable energy use in transport, and the binding national targets by 2020.
Miguel Arias Cañete , Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, said: “The report shows once again that Europe is good at renewables, and that renewables are good for Europe. We have 3 times more renewable power per capita in Europe than anywhere else in the rest of the world. We have more than 1 million people working in the renewable energy sector worth over €130 bln a year.”
Cañete added that the EU exports €35 bln worth of renewables every year.
With a projected share of 5.7 percent renewable energy in transport in 2014, achieving the 10 percent target is challenging but remains feasible, with good progress in some Member States.
According to the European Commission, 25 Member States are expected to meet their 2013/2014 renewable energy national targets.
Since the interim targets will become more ambitious over the coming years, some Member States may need to intensify their efforts to keep on track including the possible use of cooperation mechanisms with other Member States, European Commission’s press release reads.
Image: EC/Illustration