EU Nations Falling Short on Energy Targets

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--The European Commission (EC) has called on member states to boost their efforts with regard to renewable energy and energy efficiency, or the European Union may fail to hits its 2030 targets.

Analysing the first prepared draft of the national energy and climate plans (NECPs) of Member States, the EC found that they "fall short both in terms of renewables and energy efficiency contributions." For renewables share in energy, the gap could be as big as 1.6%, while for energy efficiency the gap could be up to 6.2%. The Commission examined their aggregated contribution to meeting the EU's Energy Union objectives of 32% target renewables by 2030 and energy efficiency measures of 32.5%. The EU is the first major economy to put in place a legally binding framework to deliver on its pledges under the Paris Agreement, and this is the first time that Member States have prepared draft integrated national energy and climate plans (NECPs). The Commission did note that the national plans "already represent significant efforts," but pointed to several areas where there is "room for improvement."

The plans establish a 10-year national energy and climate strategy for the period 2021 to 2030.

"These first national energy and climate plans bring the Energy Union to the national level: like the EU, member states all present policies for the climate and energy transition in an integrated way and with a ten-year perspective," explained Vice-President for the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič. "Member States have all produced impressive drafts in a relatively short time, but no draft is perfect. Final plans are due by the end of the year and our recommendations show where more effort is needed: for example, stronger ambition, more policy detail, better specified investment needs, or more work on social fairness. Clarity and predictability are a real competitive advantage for the European energy and climate policy. So let's make the best of this opportunity and give the national plans a solid final push."

Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete added: "Last November, we proposed that the European Union should become climate neutral by 2050. We have shown and led the way forward. It is good to see that a growing number of member states are following our lead and working towards that goal. Having evaluated member states' draft national plans, I am positive about the significant efforts that have been made. However, in the final plans even more ambition is needed to set the EU on the right track in fighting climate change and modernising our economy. I invite the Council to open a debate around the main priorities identified by the Commission and help ensure that the final plans contain an adequate level of ambition."

The Commission's recommendations and detailed assessments aim to help member states finalise their plans by the end of 2019 and to implement them effectively over the coming decade. Power, grid interconnection and gas infrastructure projects form a key part of the Energy Union plan. Industrial Info reported in January that one of the most important energy infrastructure projects in the EU--the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP)--had secured final financing of 3.9 billion euro ($4.5 billion). TAP was the largest project finance agreed for a European infrastructure project in 2018. The 878-kilometre (km) long TAP pipeline will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe as part of the $40 billion Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) project. For additional information, see January 22, 2018, article - Trans Adriatic Pipeline Gets $4.5 Billion EU Boost.

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