Environment, Europe, Headlines

ENVIRONMENT: EU Delays Target for Renewable Energy

Stefania Bianchi

BRUSSELS, May 26 2004 (IPS) - The European Commission has defended its decision to drop its long-term targets for renewable energy within the European Union.

The European Commission says Europe will miss its self-imposed target of getting 22 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2010.

The EU executive has therefore decided to drop long-term targets for the moment.

The Commission argues that in the face of "uncertainty" that the 2010 targets will be met, new targets for 2020 "would not be appropriate."

Renewable energy sources include sunlight, wind, waves, biomass and hydro energy.

In 1997 the European Union (EU) set a goal of increasing the share of renewable energy sources across Europe to 22 percent by 2010.

By 2001 the share of renewable energy had reached 6 percent, compared to 40 percent for oil, 23 percent for natural gas, 15 percent for solid fuels and 16 percent for nuclear power.

The Commission now predicts that with existing national policies and measures the EU’s 15 "old" member states will achieve only about 18 percent of renewable energies share of total electricity consumption by the target date.

The Commission says only four member states – Germany, Denmark, Spain and Finland – are on track to achieve their national targets.

Defending the decision Wednesday (May 26), energy commissioner Loyola de Palacio said it would be "intellectually dishonest" to set targets for 2020.

"I could do it – I’m leaving Brussels in four months – but it would be intellectually dishonest to set 2020 targets at this stage," she told media representatives. "I don’t want to hold back on the truth; by showing only one side of the coin you’re deluding your audience. It’s not my job to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes."

But several green groups have called the decision as irresponsible.

"Targets are the foundation on which other renewables policies are built – the current target expires in 2010, so a new longer-term 2020 target remains an urgent need," Mark Johnston from Friends of the Earth Europe (FOEE) said in a statement.

"Where the outgoing Commission has failed, the incoming Commission must put right," he said. "Next year’s mandatory review of the renewables directive must now be the focus in which a new longer-term target can be adopted."

Giulio Volpi of WWF said that after several years as energy commissioner "Mrs Palacio still seems to be unaware that renewable energy and energy efficiency can help to reduce significantly Europe’s energy bill."

The Commission says that efforts towards meeting the goals are "on good track" but "not sufficient." It says "improved support schemes" should be developed.

The Commission now proposes to provide "additional concrete actions at national and Community level" so that its member states can move closer to the renewable energy targets.

"The Commission proposes that the promotion of renewable energy sources be fully integrated in the structural and cohesion funds as well as EU’s international cooperation programmes," it said in a statement. "Furthermore, it is necessary to accelerate the pace of public support for research, technological development and demonstration in renewables and energy efficiency in Europe."

The Commission estimates that investments of between 15 to 20 billion dollars a year are needed to achieve the target in the EU15.

"These measures come at the right moment when Europe is facing a new increase of oil prices and is taking measures to curb greenhouse emissions," de Palacio said. "It is still time for member states to change their policies so that renewable energies can finally take off in Europe."

Wind energy is by far the fastest growing alternative energy source in Europe, with Germany, Spain and Denmark leading the way, she said. "It should ultimately provide 50 percent of Europe’s renewable energy."

The Commission will now wait until 2007 before setting post-2010 targets for renewable energy. Targets set by the Commisison are intended as guidelines, and are not legally binding on the member states.