Airborne Wind Europe has joined a coalition of renewable energy organisations supporting a joint letter advocating for a stronger role of innovative renewable energy technologies in Europe’s energy transition.
The upcoming review of the EU Governance Regulation provides a unique opportunity to strengthen EU energy and climate governance. At the same time, there is a risk that, under the guise of “simplification”, key elements of the EU’s energy and climate framework could be weakened.
The revised Renewable Energy Directive, adopted in late 2023, introduced the indicative target that 5% of all renewable energy capacity installed by 2030 should come from innovative technologies. The Governance Regulation review must ensure that this target is embedded in the future framework and supported by both EU and national financial instruments to enable its implementation across Europe.
To this end, AWEU and several renewable energy organisations have published a joint letter highlighting the importance of the 5% innovative renewable energy target for Europe’s future energy system. The letter builds on previous work advocating for the target under RED III, as well as recent key reports analysing its implementation.
It also outlines potential market intervention mechanisms, including the Net-Zero Industry Act, National Energy and Climate Plans, and the Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism, and proposes a standardised definition and indicative list of innovative renewable energy technologies to support effective implementation.
At a time when there is growing pressure to simplify EU legislation and reduce sub-targets, it is essential to maintain a strong focus on long-term objectives and the needs of the future energy system. Europe’s future energy system must be secure, flexible, competitive and sustainable, and innovative renewable energy technologies will play a key role in achieving this vision.