The committee approved amendments to the EU’s renewable energy rules that would make self-consumed electricity free from punitive charges, levies and taxes. This would make Spain’s controversial ‘sun tax’ illegal under EU rules. The ‘sun tax’ forces Spanish solar panel owners to pay for the electricity they produce and consume themselves.
Greenpeace EU energy policy adviser Sebastian Mang said: “The Parliament recognises that every European should have the right to produce, consume and sell renewable energy, but it’s unrealistically pessimistic when it comes to the EU’s renewables target. Just like nobody would force Messi to play in the Belgian third division, playing European citizens at the front of the energy transition only makes sense if they can reach their full potential.”
The energy committee also said 35 per cent of the EU’s energy should come from renewables by 2030. In 2014, European governments suggested a target of 27 per cent and, in 2016, the European Commission supported this target. But the committee supported a loophole that would allow EU countries a ten per cent leeway on the proposed 35 per cent target. This could lower the mandatory share of renewables in 2030 to only 31.5 per cent.
The committee also failed to support binding renewables targets for each EU country. With no binding national targets after 2020, the EU could find it harder to hold governments accountable for insufficient contributions to the overall EU target.
Potential of people-powered renewables
A report by CE Delft released by Greenpeace last year shows that, with the right support, half of all EU citizens could produce their own electricity by 2050, meeting nearly half of the EU’s electricity demand. Power companies would provide the remainder of Europe’s renewable electricity.
To limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees, as agreed at the Paris climate conference in 2015, the EU must increase its renewable energy target to at least 45 per cent by 2030, and transition to a system entirely powered by renewables within a generation, warned Greenpeace.
Background
The EU is currently deciding the future of its energy system through the revision of wide-ranging legislation covering renewable energy policy, fossil fuel subsidies and the design of the electricity market. The European Commission’s proposals were published in November 2016, branded as the ‘Clean energy for all Europeans’ package.
Aside from today’s vote on the renewables directive, the Parliament’s energy committee is expected to vote on the reform of electricity market rules in February 2018. The full Parliament will then vote on both files in early 2018.
Energy ministers from all EU countries will meet on 18 December 2017 in Brussels to come to a preliminary Council agreement on the planned reforms, in preparation for negotiations with the Parliament in the spring and summer of 2018.
Contacts:
Sebastian Mang - Greenpeace EU energy policy adviser: +32 (0)479 601289, 
Greenpeace EU press desk:+32 (0)2 274 1911, 
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties.