Renewable energy: Implementation Appraisal

Briefing 17-09-2015

There has been a renewed focus on energy, and on better energy integration, that is reflected in the Commission’s work programme which lists ‘a resilient Energy Union with a forward-looking climate change policy’, as one of its top ten priorities. The Commission issued a Communication, on 25 February 2015, on ‘A Framework Strategy for a Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy’ (COM(2015)80). The roadmap included in the Communication contained a commitment to review the Renewable Energy Package. In particular, a new Renewable Energy Directive for 2030 should be tabled between 2015 and 2017. In the same period, best practices in renewable energy self-consumption and support schemes, bioenergy sustainability policy should be reviewed. This briefing primarily focuses on the decarbonisation of the economy through renewable energy. This briefing is one in a series of 'Implementation Appraisals' on the operation of existing EU legislation in practice. Each such briefing focuses on a specific EU law which is likely to be amended or reviewed as set out in the European Commission’s Annual Work Programme. The Implementation Appraisals aim to provide a succinct overview of material publicly available on the implementation, application and effectiveness of an EU law to date - drawing on available input from the EU institutions and external organisations. They are provided to assist parliamentary committees in their consideration of the new proposals, once tabled.