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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
The European Commission (EC) has unveiled new measures to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy in the European Union (EU) and reduce Russian fossil fuel imports, building on the REPowerEU Plan launched two years ago.
New recommendations and guidance documents streamline EC permitting procedures and auctions for renewables in a bid to improve rapid deployment of home-grown renewable energy set out in the original REPowerEU Plan two years ago, which was developed in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent energy embargo.
It is hoped that ‘by boosting demand for clean technologies made in Europe, this initiative will also help reinforce industrial competitiveness, increase the resilience of the energy system and deliver on the European Green Deal’, reports the EC.
Under the revised Renewable Energy Directive, the EU is aiming to achieve a 45% share of renewable energy by 2030, with a legally binding minimum target of at least 42.5%. The acceleration of renewables is facilitated by a range of EU budgetary and policy tools, including the REPowerEU Chapters of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans, and the revised TEN-E Regulation which supports the development of cross-border clean energy projects, including offshore electricity grids.
Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy, says: ‘Increased predictability and faster permitting are key to sending the right investment signals across the renewable energy value chain. [This guidance] from the Commission will help member states to accelerate the deployment of renewables. As we approach two years since the adoption of the REPowerEU Plan, it is important to give this extra boost to homegrown clean energy sources, to allow us to replace even more Russian fossil fuels.’
Maroš Šefčovič, EC Executive Vice-President for European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, adds that with this latest initiative: ‘We are helping European businesses to speed up their investments in renewables and increase their roll-out across Europe. Thanks to the introduction of non-price criteria in auctions, we are giving our industry a chance to prosper at home and compete on a level playing field.’
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, comments: ‘The last 24 months have forever changed the way that Europe looks at renewables and security… These new actions are timely, to remind EU leaders not to take solar records for granted.’ (The EU Solar Strategy was launched alongside the REPowerEU package in May 2022.)
She continues: ‘The acceleration of permitting and the involvement of local communities are two prerequisites to reach our REPowerEU targets. It is, therefore, good to see the Commission recommendation for prioritising renewables and infrastructure in permitting, while reinforcing citizens’ engagement. The Commission is also providing much-needed guidance on mapping and acceleration areas... Leveraging public auctions for resilience and sustainability is a good way of rewarding companies beyond price-only. These criteria, however, need to be precise and technology specific.’
WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson remarks: ‘REPowerEU was a milestone in European energy policy. After Russia invaded Ukraine the EU could have easily put the Green Deal on hold. But they did the opposite. They doubled down on renewables. And the results have proven them right. REPowerEU has been a decisive kick-start for Europe’s transition to local, clean and cheap electricity.’
He continues: ‘Europe is moving away from wind auctions based solely on price. Non-price award criteria reward those projects that bring the biggest value to consumers and society. And tighter pre-qualification criteria help raise the bar on what sort of turbines get built.’
According to WindEurope figures, wind energy production has risen from 375 TWh to 466 TWh, increasing its share of Europe’s electricity mix from 14% to 19%, over the past two years. ‘And this will continue to grow as the EU wants wind to be 35% of the in the electricity mix in 2030 and over half by 2050,’ it adds.
However, the wind association warns: ‘Good auctions and better permitting are only part of what’s needed to drive the further growth of renewables. Europe also needs to accelerate the build-out of grids and drive the electrification of the economy, especially heavy industry. And it’s got to ensure a level playing field between clean tech industries in Europe and elsewhere.’
To mark the two-year anniversary of the REPowerEU Plan, the EC has also published a web-based stocktake. This report is accompanied by 27 fact sheets – one per EU country – providing further details.
