The document discusses the European Union's renewable energy and biomass policies. It outlines the EU's targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable energy and energy efficiency by 2020 and 2030. The EU aims to establish an integrated energy market and increase energy security by diversifying its energy sources. Biomass is expected to provide over half of the EU's renewable energy by 2020. The document discusses ensuring the sustainable and efficient production and use of biomass to deliver greenhouse gas reductions and fair competition between different biomass uses.

1. 1
The renewable energy policy
of the European Union
Andreas Pilzecker
Unit for Renewable Energy and CCS Policy
DG Energy, European Commission

2. 2
Renewable energy outlook to 2020
…current RES policies will not be sufficient to reach 2020 targets!
blue – planned trend in EU renewable energy
red dotted – estimated trend in EU renewable policy with current policies

3. 3
Biomass is not progressing as projected in many NREAPs
120000
100000
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
ktoe
blue – planned trend in EU renewable energy
red dotted – estimated trend in EU renewable policy with current policies
RES 2012 Progress Report
Bioenergy outlook to 2020

4. 4
2030 climate and energy Framework
20 %
GHG
40 %
GHG
20%
RES
20 %
EE
≥ 27
%
RES
..
2014
2020
2030
New Key
Indicato
rs
New governance system

5. 5
Main challenges…
Energy costs
• Increasing in any event: renew ageing energy system, rising
fossil fuel prices, meeting the climate and energy targets
already agreed upon
Additional investments to achieve 2030 framework
• Shift away from fuel expenditure towards investments,
additional € 38 billion investment/year 2011-2030 compared to
the reference scenario
Differences between Member States
• Future discussion will have to be centred on how to ensure an
equitable effort sharing affordable for all

6. European Council Conclusions March 2014
A coherent European energy and climate policy must ensure
affordable energy prices, industrial competitiveness, security of
supply and achievement of our climate and environmental objectives.
Substantial progress has been made towards the attainment of the
EU targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction, renewable energy
and energy efficiency, which need to be fully met by 2020.
The European Council confirms that the European Union will submit
its contribution [for COP 21 in Paris 2015] at the latest by the first
quarter of 2015, as should all major economies. The specific EU
target for 2030 will be fully in line with the agreed objective for
2050.
Such an agreed EU policy framework on greenhouse gas emissions,
renewables and energy efficiency, to be elaborated on the basis of
the Commission communication, will provide the necessary stability
and predictability for its economic operators and confirm the EU's
role globally.
6

7. 7
The European Council invites the Council and the
Commission to continue work and rapidly develop the
following elements:
• analyse the implications for individual Member States
of the Commission's proposals for EU-wide targets for
emission reductions and renewable energy;
• elaborate mechanisms which will result in an overall
fair effort sharing and foster the modernisation of the
energy sector;
• develop measures to prevent potential carbon leakage
and call for long-term planning security for industrial
investment in order to ensure the competitiveness of
Europe's energy-intensive industries;
• review the Energy Efficiency Directive in a timely
manner and develop an energy efficiency framework.

8. 8
EU Energy Security Strategy (28 May 2014)
It proposes the following key actions:
. Immediate actions aimed at increasing the EU's capacity to
overcome a major disruption during . the winter 2014/2015 Strengthening emergency/solidarity mechanisms including
coordination of risk assessments and contingency plans; and
. protecting strategic infrastructure . Moderating energy demand Building a well-functioning and fully integrated internal
. market Increasing energy production in the European Union (incl.
. renewable energy) . Further developing energy technologies . Diversifying external supplies and related infrastructure Improving coordination of national energy policies and
speaking with one voice in external energy policy

9. 9
Medium to long-term challenge
(5) Renewable energy
. 20% RES by 2020, but market-based . Coordinated RES support . Accelerate fuel-switch in heating . Supporting Finance for renewable projects (EIB, national investment banks, ESI
Funds)

10. 10
Import dependency has increased
• Since the mid-90s import
dependency up by 10
percentage points, but
relatively stable in recent
years • Significant decline in
production of oil, gas and coal
due to depletion of EU
reserves and closures of
uncompetitive sources against
demand that was steadily
growing until 2006, but
flattening out since then

11. Natural gas: in the spotlight for disruption risks
. High import dependency (66%) and
import bill (approx. 87 billion Euro in
2013), limited number of suppliers . Six Member States depend on Russia
as single external supplier for their
entire gas imports. Three of them use
natural gas for more than a quarter
of their total energy needs . In 2013 energy supplies from Russia
accounted for 39% of EU natural gas
imports or 27% of EU gas
consumption . Russia exported 71 % of its gas to
11
Europe with the largest volumes to
Germany and Italy

12. 12
Council Conclusions 26/27 June 2014 . The European Council [..] stressed the
importance of swiftly developing the key
elements of the framework, and looks forward,
in particular, to the Commission presenting by
July a review of the Energy Efficiency Directive
and how energy efficiency can contribute to the
2030 climate and . energy framework. It reaffirms the importance of the UN Climate
Summit in September 2014 and confirms that
the specific EU target for 2030 for greenhouse
gas emission reductions will be fully in line with
the agreed ambitious EU objective for 2050.

13. 13
Energy Efficiency Communication, 23
J.ul y 2014 The Commission proposes a new energy
.e fficiency target of 30% for 2030. Energy efficiency can drive
competitiveness and strengthen security
.o f supply. Current measures will achieve energy
.s avings of 18-19% by 2020. If already agreed legislation is properly
implemented, the 20% target can be
reached without additional measures.

14. 14
. The EU's new 30% target for 2030 can make
energy cheaper, ensure security of supply, and
.i mprove the lives. For every additional 1% in energy savings, EU
.g as imports are expected to fall by 2.6%. More energy efficient buildings offer 'ancillary
benefits' in addition to reducing their energy
.b ills. Ambitious energy efficiency policies create new
.o pportunities for European businesses. The new energy efficiency target is estimated to
create new jobs by 2030.

15. Commission President-elect Junker’s priorities on
energy:
. Strengthen the share of renewable energies on
our continent. This is not only a matter of
responsible climate policy. It is, at the same time,
an industrial policy imperative if we still want to
have affordable energy at our disposal in the
medium term. I strongly believe in the potential of
“Green Growth” and I want the EU to become the
world number one in . renewable energies. Enhance energy efficiency beyond the 2020
objective, notably when it comes to buildings. A
binding 30% objective for energy efficiency by 2030
is to me the minimum if we want to be credible.
15

16. 16
Mission letter to Commissioner for
Climate Action and Energy
. Contribute to establishing a European Energy Union with a forward-looking climate
. change policy. . Contributing to the completion of the internal market for energy. Identify and select infrastructure projects on which to focus, assess the need to
add to the current legal framework and monitor very closely the implementation of
. existing legislation. Contributing to the jobs, growth and investment package. Ensure that the EU
can be a catalyst for public and private investment. A particular focus should be in
infrastructure such as energy networks, as well as in renewable energy and energy
. efficiency. Increasing Europe’s energy security by diversifying sources and routes of energy
. imports and combining our negotiating power. Steering the preparation and negotiations of the legislative instruments that will
. follow political agreement on the 2030 energy and climate framework. Continuing to develop EU policy for renewables. The EU should be a world leader
. in this sector. . Guide work on energy efficiency. Strengthening and promoting the Emissions Trading System to ensure we reach
our climate goals in a cost-effective way.

17. 17
European Council Agenda (23/24
October 2014)
“The European Council will take a final
decision on the new climate and energy
policy framework, including on further
measures aimed at enhancing Europe's
energy security and on specific 2030
interconnection objectives.”

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EU policy on biomass
§ Biomass: only renewable energy source that requires
ongoing use of fuel with a cost to supply
§ Key role for biomass: expected to deliver over half the
renewables target in 2020, key role for 2030-2050
energy scenario
§ EU policy objectives:
ü competitive feedstock mobilization
ü sustainable lifecycle production
ü efficient biomass end-use
§ Many opportunities and benefits but also significant
risks

19. 19
EU approach to biomass and biogas
sustainability
• RES directive: mandate to assess the issue
• EU February 2010 report on biomass sustainability:
recommendation that national criteria follow in almost all
respects those for biofuels for consistency and to avoid
unwarranted discrimination in the use of raw materials
• Ongoing review of approach effectiveness, focusing on three
aims
ü Market impacts of national sustainability regulations
ü Sustainability issues: production of biomass, lifecycle
greenhouse emissions, end-use efficiency, resource
efficiency

20. 20
What stakeholders told us
ü Overall stakeholders split on the need for additional EU action
beyond national regulations, clear divide between biomass
exporters and importers
ü Non-government organisations and some academia want robust
action to prevent deforestation and ensure real GHG benefits
ü Large generators worried about conflicting national approaches,
want to end the uncertainty on what standards would be needed to
receive public support
ü But smaller players in the supply chains – small woodland owners
and some farmers - are concerned at cost and complexity
ü Traditional feedstock users (i.e. wood panel industry) concerned
about potentially increasing competition for biomass raw material

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Biomass policy post-2020
An improved biomass policy will also be necessary to
maximise the resource efficient use of biomass in order to
deliver robust and verifiable greenhouse gas savings
and to allow for fair competition between the various uses
of biomass resources in the construction sector, paper and
pulp industries and biochemical and energy production.
This should also encompass the sustainable use of land,
the sustainable management of forests in line with the
EU's forest strategy and address indirect effects as with
biofuels.

22. 22
EU Roadmap Energy 2050
%
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Biomass
will
con,nue
to
play
a
key
role,
need
to
promote
most
efficient
uses
RES share up to 55% of
EU energy demand
(64-97% of total power
demand) by 2050

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Thank you for your attention!
More information:
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/