The EU Council of Ministers has approved the amendment to the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III). The target of increasing the share of renewable energy to at least 42.5 % across the EU by 2030 is now legally binding. Previously, the RED II target was only 32.5 % and has not been renewed since 2018. With the latest decision, the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive and the EU climate protection package "Fit for 55" Consistently aligned.
Accelerated procedures through RED III
The expedited permitting process for wind and solar power plants under Germany’s emergency ordinances will now become the standard. Accordingly, solar and wind farms should be approved within a maximum of one year, and duplicate environmental studies or analyses will no longer be necessary. The harmonization and amendment of the EU-wide Renewable Energy Directive (RED) was urgently needed, as CO₂ emissions are also to be reduced by 55 % by 2030. The accelerated expansion of Photovoltaicsand wind turbines play a crucial role. In order to achieve all the targets, an annual expansion of 100 gigawatts of renewables must be realized in the EU.
What is the "Renewable Energy Directive" (RED)?
The EU directive on renewable energy aims to increase the share of renewable energy in total energy consumption in general. It sets binding targets for the share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption. In addition, there are specific targets for the expansion of renewable energy in the transport sector and in the field of heat and cooling generation. The RED also contains provisions for the promotion of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the sustainability of bioenergy. Furthermore, Member States must develop national action plans to achieve their goals. Furthermore, the directive promotes the expansion of renewable energy through measures such as feed-in tariffs, quota regulations, tenders, and network access regulations. Thus, it is an important instrument for the energy transition and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. Overall, the RED promotes the use of wind power, solar energy, biomass, hydropower, and geothermal energy. Thus, it contributes to reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
What else has changed with RED III?
The amendment to the Renewable Energy Directive also provides for a doubling of the share of renewable energies in total energy consumption in the building and transport sectors and lays down further binding definitions and provisions: the handling of e-fuels, the explanation of the term "green hydrogen" and, for example, the use and evaluation of wood or biomass as energy sources. The sub-objectives in the legislation for the district heating and cooling industry were also further elaborated in the trilogue procedure between the EU Commission, Parliament and the European Council and adopted with RED III. Only the questions regarding the exclusion of hydropower plants from priority areas or their sustainability character and whether e-fuels from nuclear power can be counted towards the targets in the transport sector must now be further renegotiated.