The EU leadership continues to support renewables in the belief that they play a major role in energy security; can be gradually integrated into the energy market thanks to falling costs; are related to energy efficiency; are one of the pillars of decarbonisation; and contribute to the EU’s role as a global leader in innovation.
Renewables shares for individual member states were specified in 2009 by the 2009/28/EU directive. In 2015, 25 member states exceeded their shares for the given year and some even exceeded their 2020 target shares. Renewables have helped to reduce the wholesale electricity price; in retail prices, however, the fee has appeared in relation to the support of renewables, plus combined heat and power production.
The “Clean Energy for All Europeans” package introduced by the European Commission last November expresses further support for the energy transition targeted at increasing the share of renewables, mainly in buildings and in the transportation and industry sectors.
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