Section outline

  • The Renewable Energy Directive (2018/2001/EU) entered into force in December 2018, as part of the Clean energy for all Europeans package, aimed at  maintaining the EU’s status as a global leader in renewables and, more broadly, helping it to meet its emissions reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement.

    It established a new binding renewable energy target for the EU for 2030 of at least 32%, with a clause for a possible upwards revision by 2023. This target is a continuation of the 20% target for 2020. In order to help EU countries deliver on this target, the directive introduced new measures for various sectors of the economy, particularly on heating and cooling and transport, where progress has been slower (for example, an increased 14% target for the share of renewable fuels in transport by 2030). It also includes new provisions to allow citizens to play an active role in the development of renewables by enabling renewable energy communities and self-consumption of renewable energy and established better criteria to ensure bioenergy's sustainability.

    • Increased the 2030 target to 32% renewable energy in gross final consumption.
    • Included binding sustainability criteria for solid and gaseous biomass fuels used in electricity and heating.
    • Strengthened provisions for consumer rights, energy self-consumption, and storage.
    • Obligated Member States to develop integrated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs).

    Given the need to speed up the EU’s clean energy transition, the Renewable Energy Directive EU/2018/2001 was revised in 2023.