On Tuesday, the Members of the European Parliament (MEP) updated the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) to raise the share of renewables in the EU’s final energy consumption to 42,5% by 2030. Member states should strive to achieve 45%.
The legislation will also speed up procedures to grant permits for new renewable energy power plants, such as solar panels or wind turbines, or to adapt existing ones. National authorities should take no longer than twelve months to approve new renewable energy installations.
Cross-border energy projects
In the transport sector, renewable deployment should lead to a 14,5% reduction by 2030 in greenhouse gas emissions by using a greater share of advanced biofuels and more ambitious quota for renewable fuels of non-biological origin, such as hydrogen.
MEPs also secured that member states set an indicative target for innovative renewable energy technology of at least 5% of newly installed renewable energy capacity and a binding framework for cross-border energy projects.
Biodiversity
They also pushed for stricter criteria for the use of biomass. Biomass harvesting should be done to prevent adverse impacts on soil quality and biodiversity.
The legislation was adopted with 470 votes to 120, with 40 abstentions. It must now be formally endorsed by the Council to come into law.
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