EU guidance on implementing revised rules on renewable energy adopted

This package will support national administrations by providing clarity on the more complex elements of the new legislation and give a common basis for introducing the new requirements in national law across EU countries.

The adopted guidance covers three areas related to the Renewable Energy Directive where progress needs to be accelerated: heating and cooling, energy system integration and renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs).

The Commission also adopted a guidance document relating to the heating and cooling aspects of the revised Energy Efficiency Directive, an official release said.

The new rules in the directive on energy system integration and electrification are key to making the energy system more flexible by integrating large shares of variable renewable electricity and by promoting electricity use in transport and heating.

The guidance on energy system integration clarifies the new requirements for electricity system operators to provide information close to real time on the renewable energy share and the greenhouse gas emissions content of the electricity supplied to end users.

To enable real-time access to basic battery management information, the guidance provides clarity on the obligations for battery and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers.

It also clarifies requirements to enable smart and bi-directional recharging, and on the possibility for small and decentralised energy sources to actively participate in electricity markets.

The guidance on the articles in the directive related to RFNBOs clarifies the targets on the consumption of RFNBOs in the industry and transport sectors. It explains the calculation of the targets, their scope and the interlinkage between the two targets for industry and transport.

Heating and cooling accounts for roughly half of all the EU’s energy use. The revised directive includes targets to increase the share of renewable energy in heating and cooling, district heating and cooling and industry, and new 2030 national benchmarks for renewable energy in buildings.

The guidance on heating and cooling clarifies the new provisions and the accounting of higher share of renewable energy in this sector. It also provides additional explanations on how to apply the definition of waste heat in the context of the directive.

The revised Renewable Energy Directive is the main legislative framework to drive the deployment of renewable energy in the EU. Its 2023 revision increased the EU’s 2030 renewables target to at least 42.5 per cent, aiming to reach 45 per cent. It also introduced new measures to accelerate the uptake of renewable energy projects.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)