EU legal framework

The means of promotion of electricity generated from renewable energy sources have not yet been harmonised across the European Union. Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources only sets indicative targets. The directive aims first and foremost to increase the proportion of renewable energy sources through national indicative targets (Art. 3 of the directive). Furthermore, the directive is setting out a wide frame of action describing how the targets are to be implemented, e.g. through priority access to the grid of electricity produced from renewable energy sources (Art. 16 of the directive) or through the reduction of regulatory and non-regulatory barriers (Art. 13 of the directive). Regarding the promotion systems in general, the directive gives plenty of rope to the member states.

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National targets

Directive 2009/28/EC obliges the member states to set national targets for the proportion of renewable energy sources in total energy consumption. The national targets must be consistent with the target of at least a 20 % share of energy from renewable sources in the Community’s gross final consumption of energy in 2020.