Source: European Parliament
During the confirmatory hearing in the European Parliament on 5 November 2024, the Commissioner for Energy and Housing set out his commitment to work on a renewable energy target for 2040.
Setting such a target for 2040 would build on the findings of the impact assessment accompanying the recommendation for a 2040 climate target (COM/2024/63 final; SWD/2024/63 final) and establishing that a greater share of renewables is necessary for the EU to meet its climate goals in the more cost-effective manner, while also enhancing energy independence, energy affordability, promoting jobs and supporting economic growth.
The Commission Communication on the 2040 climate target from February 2024 state that ‘all zero and low carbon energy solutions (including renewables, nuclear, energy efficiency, storage, CCS, CCU, carbon removals, geothermal and hydro-energy, and all other current and future net-zero energy technologies) are necessary to decarbonise the energy system by 2040’[1]. The 2040 Impact Assessment confirms this.
The Commission respects the Member States’ right to choose their energy mix in line with the Treaties. Member States are free to decide which renewable energy technologies to develop further and the composition of the non-renewable share of their energy consumption.
- [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2024%3A63%3AFIN