The EU will surpass its target to consume 20 per cent of its energy from renewable energy by 2020. This is the key outcome of the report published by the European Commission on 11 March 2010 summarising the national forecasts submitted by Member States. This target is set by the Renewable Energy Directive which guides EU action in this field and sets individual binding national targets.

According to their forecast documents, ten Member States expect to exceed their national targets for renewable energy, with a further 12 set to meet their goals domestically. Only five expect to need to use the Directive's cooperation mechanisms and reach their target by developing some renewable energy in another Member State or a third country. Whilst Member States expect to use the cooperation mechanisms for only a small amount of energy (around 2-3 mtoe), the forecast total production of renewable energy would actually exceed the 20% target and reach 20.3%. Renewables include biofuels, biomass, wind, solar energy as well as hydro power. The renewable share in 2007 was 9%. Approximately 63% of this is derived from biomass and biowaste.

The priority will remain to assist all Member States to reach the required target or, for those which are already close to the target, to go beyond it.

Background

The Renewable Energy Directive sets individual national targets according to Member States' capacity to increase their share of renewables. It also requests Member States to deliver a report, explaining whether they expect to achieve their targets from domestic renewable energy sources, whether they expect to exceed their targets and have a "surplus" to offer to other Member States through the use of the "cooperation mechanisms" contained in the Directive, or whether they expect to need to "import" renewable energy statistically using the cooperation mechanisms to meet their targets.

For further information

The individual reports and a short summary including a table with all Member States' performance can be viewed here: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/transparency_platform/transparency_platform_en.htm