Answer given by Mr Arias Cañete on behalf of the Commission
30.1.2015
The Renewable Energy Directive[1] includes the option to use cooperation mechanisms within and outside the EU to achieve national targets. Sweden and Norway already have a joint support scheme in place. Other Member States are in the process of finding buyers or sellers for their excess or lacking renewable energy production.
The Commission has been actively promoting the use of these mechanisms to foster cost-efficiency in target achievement and regionalisation of national support schemes. Making more use of cooperation mechanisms could help Member States achieve their national targets by using each other's renewable potentials cost-efficiently. This allows using cheaper renewable development potential from a Member State to count for the national target of another.
The Commission has issued guidance for the use of cooperation mechanisms and conducted practical case studies on how the barriers preventing cooperation mechanisms in all forms ought to be addressed between Member States[2]. The conclusions from these two exercises are that technical, administrative and financial barriers can be dealt with, but that political signals are necessary to make use of these mechanisms.
Croatia has developed a National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) to reach a 20% share of renewable energy by 2020[3]. Member States are also required[4] to introduce measures effectively designed to ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources equals or exceeds that shown in the indicative trajectory[5]. A Member State falling below the indicative trajectory in the immediately preceding two-year period shall submit an amended NREAP to the Commission[6]. The Commission shall evaluate the NREAP and may issue a recommendation[7].
- [1] Renewable Energy Directive Directive 2009/28/EC.
- [2] http://ec.europa.eu/energy/gas_electricity/doc/com_2013_public_intervention_swd04_en.pdf
- [3] In line with the target set in the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC.
- [4] Article 3(2) of the Renewable Energy Directive.
- [5] in Annex 1, part В of the directive 2009/28/EC.
- [6] Unless the Commission releases the Member State from this obligation — Article 4(4) Directive 2009/28/EC.
- [7] Article 4(5) Directive 2009/28/EC.