The European Union on Thursday reached a tentative agreement on higher renewable energy targets, an important pillar of the bloc’s plans to tackle climate change and end Russia’s dependence on fossil fuels.
European Parliament and Council negotiators agreed that, by 2030, the 27 countries of the European Union will commit to getting 42.5% of their energy from renewable sources, such as wind and solar, with a potential up to 45%.
The current European Union target for 2030 is 32% renewable energy.
The bloc got 22% of its energy from renewable sources in 2021, but the level varied significantly between countries. Sweden leads the 27 countries with its 63% share of renewable energy, while in Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands and Ireland, renewables account for less than 13% of total energy consumption.
A swift switch to renewable energy is crucial if the European Union is to meet its climate change goals, including a legally binding target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to levels of 1990.
Countries will need to increase the share of renewable energy in the energy used by the transport sector to 29%.
European Union industry will increase its use of renewable energy by 1.6% per year, with 42% of the hydrogen it uses coming from renewable sources by 2030 and 60% by 2035.
The directive added targets for buildings and sought to speed up permitting processes for renewable energy projects.
Renewable energy targets have gained prominence since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as the European Union has pledged to end its dependence on Russian fossil fuels by 2027 and plans to do so primarily through low-carbon energy. locally produced carbon.
Achieving the new targets will require massive investments in wind and solar farms, strengthening Europe’s electricity grids to integrate more clean energy.
The European Commission has said that an additional €113 billion of investments in renewable energy and hydrogen infrastructure will be needed by 2030 if countries are to end their dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
The agreement must be approved by the European Union Parliament and by the countries of the bloc to become law, normally a formality.
Source: Terra

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