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European Parliament backs 45% renewable energy goal for 2030

(EurActiv, 14 Sep 2022) The European Parliament voted on Wednesday (14 September) in favour of a 45% target for renewable energy in the EU’s energy mix by 2030, paving the way for negotiations with the 27 member states to finalise the text before the end of the year.

Russia’s war in Ukraine is “a war on our energy, a war on our economy, a war on our values and a war on our future”.

Those words were those of Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President who was addressing Parliament on Wednesday in her annual State of the Union speech.

And MEPs apparently took note.

With 418 votes in favour, 109 against and 111 abstentions, the Parliament adopted a new revision of the 2018 directive on renewable energies, part of EU plans presented last year aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% before the end of the decade.

The 45% renewable energy goal is higher than the 40% endorsed by the member states in June – a decision which however did not take into account the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the Commission’s REPowerEU plan presented in May, which revised the EU’s goals upwards.

If this new objective is confirmed by EU member states in upcoming talks with Parliament later this year, the EU will have to achieve a 45% share of renewables in its overall energy mix by 2030.

To achieve the EU-wide goal, each EU country will have to implement a minimum of two cross-border electricity projects, and even three for those with an annual electricity consumption of more than 100 terawatt-hours (TWh).

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EurActiv, 14 Sep 2022: European Parliament backs 45% renewable energy goal for 2030