The United Kingdom National Renewable Energy Action Plan was the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for the United Kingdom in the 2010s. The plan was commissioned by the Directive 2009/28/EC [1] which required Member States of the European Union to notify the European Commission with a road map for achieving legally binding renewable energy targets. [2]
The report described how the United Kingdom planned to achieve its legally binding target of 15 per cent share of energy from renewable sources by 2020. [2] [3]
The history of energy production in the UK had been based on natural resources of fossil fuels; meaning that the UK had not been active in exploitation of renewable resources.[ citation needed ] Compared to many other EU Member States in the 2010s, the UK started from a very low level of renewable energy consumption.[ citation needed ]
In 2008, one year before Directive 2009/28/EC, the UK adopted the Climate Change Act 2008, mandating a minimum 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with 1990 levels, to be achieved by 2050. [4]
The National Renewable Energy Action Plan stated that the United Kingdom aimed to source 30 per cent of electricity used, 12 per cent of heating and 10 per cent of transport energy from renewable sources. [4] In 2013, the Energy Act 2013 set decarbonisation targets for the power sector and in 2015, the UK government announced that all coal-fired power plants without carbon capture technology would be closed by 2025. [4]
By the time of the Brexit referendum in 2016, the UK’s Climate Change Committee was reporting that the UK would miss its 2020 targets in the plan; although the government insisted it was on target. [5]
In 2016, The Guardian newspaper reported that the UK was still required to meet the Plan’s commitments, despite the country voting to leave the European Union. [5] However, European think tank Centre for European Policy Studies reported in early 2017 that the UK could revoke its commitments after invoking Article 50 of the EU treaty, [3] and in 2018, the European Commission confirmed that the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive would no longer apply to the UK after Brexit was formalized [4] (which happened in 2020).[ citation needed ]
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. The Union has a total area of 4,233,255 km2 (1,634,469 sq mi) and an estimated total population of over 448 million. The EU has often been described as a sui generis political entity combining the characteristics of both a federation and a confederation.
A directive is a legal act of the European Union that requires member states to achieve particular goals without dictating how the member states achieve those goals. A directive's goals have to be made the goals of one or more new or changed national laws by the member states before this legislation applies to individuals residing in the member states. Directives normally leave member states with a certain amount of leeway as to the exact rules to be adopted. Directives can be adopted by means of a variety of legislative procedures depending on their subject matter.
Renewable energy progress in the European Union (EU) is driven by the European Commission's 2023 revision of the Renewable Energy Directive, which raises the EU's binding renewable energy target for 2030 to at least 42.5%, up from the previous target of 32%. Effective since November 20, 2023, across all EU countries, this directive aligns with broader climate objectives, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Additionally, the Energy 2020 strategy exceeded its goals, with the EU achieving a 22.1% share of renewable energy in 2020, surpassing the 20% target.
Directive 2003/30/EC was a European Union directive for promoting the use of biofuels for EU transport. The directive entered into force in May 2003, and stipulated that national measures must be taken by countries across the EU aiming at replacing 5.75% of all transport fossil fuels with biofuels by 2010. The directive also called for an intermediate target of 2% by 31 December 2005. The target of 5.75% was to be met by 31 December 2010. These percentages were to be calculated on the basis of energy content of the fuel and were to apply to petrol and diesel fuel for transport purposes placed on the markets of member states. Member states were encouraged to take on national "indicative" targets in conformity with the overall target.
The energy policy of the European Union focuses on energy security, sustainability, and integrating the energy markets of member states. An increasingly important part of it is climate policy. A key energy policy adopted in 2009 is the 20/20/20 objectives, binding for all EU Member States. The target involved increasing the share of renewable energy in its final energy use to 20%, reduce greenhouse gases by 20% and increase energy efficiency by 20%. After this target was met, new targets for 2030 were set at a 55% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 as part of the European Green Deal. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU's energy policy turned more towards energy security in their REPowerEU policy package, which boosts both renewable deployment and fossil fuel infrastructure for alternative suppliers.
Renewable energy in Spain, comprising bioenergy, wind, solar, and hydro sources, accounted for 15.0% of the Total Energy Supply (TES) in 2019. Oil was the largest contributor at 42.4% of the TES, followed by gas, which made up 25.4%.
Solar power consists of photovoltaics (PV) and solar thermal energy in the European Union (EU).
The Renewable Energy Directive 2018 is a Directive in EU law that requires 42.5 percent of the energy consumed within the European Union to be renewable by 2030. This target is pooled among the member states.
The LIFE programme is the European Union's funding instrument for the environment and climate action. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental and climate policy and legislation by co-financing projects with European added value. LIFE began in 1992 and to date there have been five phases of the programme. During this period, LIFE has co-financed some 4600 projects across the EU, with a total contribution of approximately 6.5 billion Euros to the protection of the environment and of climate. For the next phase of the programme (2021–2027) the European Commission proposed to raise the budget to 5.45 billion Euro.
Environmental issues in the European Union include the environmental issues identified by the European Union as well as its constituent states. The European Union has several federal bodies which create policy and practice across the constituent states.
A National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) is a detailed report submitted by countries outlining commitments and initiatives to develop renewable energy that all member states of the European Union were obliged to notify to the European Commission by 30 June 2010. The plan provides a detailed road map of how the member state expects to reach its legally binding 2020 target for the share of renewable energy in their total energy consumption, as required by article 4 of the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC. In the plan, the member state sets out sectoral targets, the technology mix they expect to use, the trajectory they will follow, and the measures and reforms they will undertake to overcome the barriers to developing renewable energy.
The German National Renewable Energy Action Plan is the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for Germany. The plan was commissioned under EU Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC which required member states of the European Union to notify the European Commission with a road map. The report describes how Germany plans to achieve its legally binding target of an 18% share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy by 2020.
The Finland National Renewable Energy Action Plan is the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for Finland. The plan was commissioned by the Directive 2009/28/EC which required Member States of the European Union to notify the European Commission with a road map. The report describes how Finland planned to achieve its legally binding target of a 38% share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy by 2020.
The Poland National Renewable Energy Action Plan is the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for Poland. The plan was commissioned by the Directive 2009/28/EC which required Member States of the European Union to notify the European Commission with a road map. The report describes how Poland planned to achieve its legally binding target of a 15% share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy by 2020.
The Sweden National Renewable Energy Action Plan is the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for Sweden. The plan was commissioned by the Directive 2009/28/EC which required Member States of the European Union to notify the European Commission with a road map. The report describes how Sweden planned to achieve its legally binding target of a 49% share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy by 2020.
Energy in Greece is dominated by fossil gas and oil. Electricity generation is dominated by the one third state owned Public Power Corporation. In 2009 DEI supplied for 85.6% of all electric energy demand in Greece, while the number fell to 77.3% in 2010. Almost half (48%) of DEI's power output in 2010 was generated using lignite. 12% of Greece's electricity comes from hydroelectric power plants and another 20% from natural gas. Between 2009 and 2010, independent companies' energy production increased by 56%, from 2,709 Gigawatt hour in 2009 to 4,232 GWh in 2010.
The France National Renewable Energy Action Plan, aligned with EU Directive 2009/28/EC, outlines France's commitment to reaching specific renewable energy targets by 2020. This includes achieving a 23% share of energy from renewable sources in its gross final energy consumption, with sector-specific targets of 33% in heating and cooling, 27% in electricity, and 10.5% in transport. To meet these goals, France has implemented measures such as modifying administrative procedures, providing tax reliefs and grants, and investing in energy-efficient railway infrastructure. Additionally, under this directive, EU Member States are required to submit biennial progress reports on the use and promotion of renewable energy, evaluating their progress towards national objectives.
Under the original 2009 Renewable Energy Directive Ireland had set a target of producing 16% of all its energy needs from renewable energy sources by 2020 but that has been updated by a second Renewable Energy Directive whose targets are 32% by 2030. Between 2005 and 2014 the percentage of energy from renewable energy sources grew from just 3.1% to 8.6% of total final consumption. By 2020 the overall renewable energy share was 13.5%, short of its Renewable Energy Drive target of 16%. Renewable electricity accounted for 69% of all renewable energy used in 2020, up from two thirds (66.8%) in 2019.
Denmark is a leading country in renewable energy production and usage. Renewable energy sources collectively produced 81% of Denmark's electricity generation in 2022, and are expected to provide 100% of national electric power production from 2030. Including energy use in the heating/cooling and transport sectors, Denmark is expected to reach 100% renewable energy in 2050, up from the 34% recorded in 2021.
The Energy Efficiency Directive 2012/27/EU is a European Union directive which mandates energy efficiency improvements within the European Union. It was approved on 25 October 2012 and entered into force on 4 December 2012. The directive introduces legally binding measures to encourage efforts to use energy more efficiently in all stages and sectors of the supply chain. It establishes a common framework for the promotion of energy efficiency within the EU in order to meet its energy efficiency headline target of 20% by 2020. It also paves the way for further improvements thereafter.
