Renewables need more support to meet EU's 2010 targets: EEA

Brussels (Platts)--3Jun2004

Renewable energies will need more support to meet national and European Union
growth targets for 2010, the European Environment Agency reported Wednesday.
The independent EU body said that to increase their market share renewables
needed diverse policy measures such as setting targets beyond 2010,
implementing support schemes and including external costs in energy prices.

EEA reported that total energy use was still rising in the EU and that fossil
fuels' 80% share was also likely to rise slightly over the next 30 years,
making it difficult for the EU to meet its climate change targets. Renewable
energy is not expected to raise its share significantly, despite some growth
in absolute terms. Last week the EC admitted that the EU was going to miss its
2010 renewables target. It is on track for 10% of total energy use from
renewable sources by 2010, but the target is 12%.

The EU's energy efficiency potential must be realized to move it further
towards a sustainable energy future, the EEA said. The original 15 EU members
could improve their energy efficiency cost-effectively by an estimated 20%,
said the EEA, and by even more in the ten new member states. The European
Commission's draft energy services directive was 'a step in the right
direction', said the EEA, as it obliges member states to save 1%/year of
energy from 2006 to 2012. But allowing energy efficiency improvements achieved
since 1991 to count toward the target could mean that those member states that
have already acted may not feel they have to make any more effort, even if
they still have the potential to improve, the EEA said. The directive is on
the provisional agenda for debate by member state ministers at the energy
council in Luxembourg on Jun 10-11, 2004.

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