Brussels - The European Commission adopted today a progress report on renewable energy (in the electricity and transport sectors), highlighting the patchy progress made and the EU's likely failure to reach its 2010 targets. The report explores the reason for this and explains that the new Directive on renewable energy, agreed as part of the energy and climate package and due to enter into force in May, addresses all the concerns highlighted in the report and provides a solid basis for removing barriers and increasing the growth of renewable energy for the next ten years.

The Community established 2010 targets for the share of electricity from renewable energy and for the share renewable energy used in the transport sector. This was done by Directives 2001/77/EC and Directive 2003/30/EC respectively. The Directives require that Member States submit annual reports on progress, and that the Commission review progress every two years.

This latest progress report covers both the electricity and the transport sectors. It notes the uneven progress of the last two years, with some Member States already reaching their targets (Germany, for instance), and others far behind. It confirms earlier analysis that EU member states are unlikely to reach the 2010 targets in either sector: the EU could reach a 19% share in electricity, rather than 21% and 4% instead of 5.75% in the transport sector.

The report contains a summary table of recent progress (the increase in the shares between 2004/5-2006/7) and the progress made towards the 2010 targets in each Member State. The report also notes the need for further activity in the biomass sector in particular.

The reasons for the uneven progress are not new. Despite the Commission launching infringement proceedings against various member states, the current legal framework does not provide an adequate basis for supporting solid growth in renewable energy use. Known barriers remain - surrounding administrative procedures, grid access, and guaranteeing adequate support and measures from member states to ensure that growth occurs. This report therefore highlights the ongoing need for a new and stronger legislative framework, which is what is provided by the new Directive on renewable energy. This Directive, agreed by member states and Parliament in December as part of the energy and climate package and due to enter into force in May, addresses all these known concerns.

Further details of the analysis are available here.

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